Tucked into the heart of Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley, Bricoleur Vineyards is more than a picturesque estate winery—it is a deeply intentional expression of place, people, and purpose. Family-owned and operated, Bricoleur has quickly earned acclaim for wines designed with food in mind, shaped by some of California’s most distinctive vineyard sites and guided by a philosophy that winemaking is, above all, an interconnected craft.

Founded in 2017, Bricoleur Vineyards draws strength from both legacy and innovation. At its helm is Co-Founder and CEO Sarah Citron, a visionary leader with deep Sonoma roots and a creative sensibility shaped by years in fashion and digital commerce. Alongside her parents, Sarah set out to build a winery that honors the past while speaking clearly to today’s consumer—one that feels welcoming, relevant, and grounded in authenticity.

A Legacy Embedded in California Wine History

Bricoleur’s story begins long before its first vintage. Sarah Citron’s great-great-grandfather, Pietro Carlo Rossi, was the original oenologist of Sonoma’s historic Italian Swiss Colony. Trained as a chemist in Piemonte, Rossi played a pivotal role in elevating California winemaking in the 19th century and earned international recognition for the quality of his Zinfandel and sparkling wines. That pioneering spirit continues today, carried forward by the Rossi and Hanson families, whose shared vision has shaped Bricoleur into a distinctly Sonoma estate.

Vineyard-Driven, Site-Specific Wines

At the core of Bricoleur Vineyards is an unwavering commitment to terroir. The winery farms just over 63 acres of estate vineyards across two organically farmed, Certified California Sustainable properties, planted to 12 different grape varieties. Each block is monitored closely for vigor, stress, and yield, allowing the team to harvest at optimal phenolic ripeness and preserve varietal purity.

The Russian River Valley estate spans 20 acres in one of California’s most celebrated regions for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Rooted in Huichica clay loam soils and shaped by the cooling influence of Pacific fog, the vineyard benefits from dramatic diurnal shifts that maintain acidity and build complexity. Seven Pinot Noir clones and two Chardonnay clones give the winemaking team remarkable flexibility to craft layered, expressive wines that reflect both site and season.

Complementing this cool-climate elegance is Bricoleur’s 43-acre Kick Ranch estate in the Fountaingrove District AVA. Perched on the western slopes of the Mayacamas at elevations up to 500 feet, Kick Ranch is defined by rocky, volcanic soils, sun-drenched exposures, and cooling coastal winds from the Petaluma Gap. The result is structured, mineral-driven fruit ideal for Rhône and Bordeaux varieties, including Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Grenache, Viognier, and Sauvignon Blanc. Notably, Kick Ranch remains relatively unsaturated on wine lists and retail shelves, offering buyers access to a distinctive Sonoma AVA with strong differentiation.

Further expanding its vineyard palette, Bricoleur also works with select Rockpile sites high above Lake Sonoma. These rugged, wind-swept vineyards yield intensely concentrated Zinfandel, showcasing yet another facet of Sonoma County’s extraordinary diversity.

Winemaking With Experience and Restraint

Bricoleur’s wines are crafted by an award-winning winemaking team led by Thomas Pierson and Bob Cabral, who together have harvested more than 90 vintages. In the cellar, the approach is restrained and intuitive. Whites and rosés emphasize freshness and purity through stainless steel fermentation, while reds are shaped with gentle extraction and judicious oak to build nuance rather than weight. Across the portfolio, the guiding principle is clarity—allowing each site to tell its story without unnecessary intervention.

A Wine-First Culinary Destination

What truly sets Bricoleur apart is its seamless integration of wine and food. The 40-acre estate is home to a renowned culinary program led by Executive Chef Todd Knoll and Senior Sous Chef River Robinson. Anchored by a wine-first philosophy, the estate-to-plate menus draw heavily from Bricoleur’s internationally acclaimed culinary gardens, where herbs, edible flowers, and produce flourish alongside the vines. The result is a hospitality experience that reinforces how the wines are meant to be enjoyed—at the table, in conversation with food.

Stewardship, Community, and Purpose

Sustainability at Bricoleur is not a marketing exercise but a foundational belief. Cover cropping, soil building, and water conservation guide vineyard practices, reflecting a broader philosophy that the land is something to care for, not own.

That sense of responsibility extends beyond the vineyard. Through partnerships with Chef Charlie Palmer, the Emeril Lagasse Foundation, and the V Foundation, Bricoleur has embedded philanthropy into its identity. Following Sarah Citron’s own journey through Stage 3 breast cancer, the winery launched Sip With Purpose, raising over $102,000 for cancer research to date. The Isla Rose Brut Rosé—named after Sarah’s daughter—stands as both a personal tribute and a symbol of resilience.

In every sense, Bricoleur Vineyards represents a modern Sonoma estate: terroir-driven, culinary-led, community-minded, and deeply human. It is a winery where every sip tells a story—of land, legacy, and a future shaped with intention.

Header image sourced from Bricoleur Vineyards (Winemaking team at Bricoleur Vineyards. From left to right: Cary Gott, Tom Pierson and Bob Cabral).