We’ve been fans of wines made from the Dusi vineyards in Paso Robles for many years, perhaps almost as long as we’ve been fans of wine. Wineries like Ridge and Turley, among others, have always made special wines from these amazing vineyards. We were very excited when Janell Dusi started her own winery, J Dusi Wines, almost 20 years ago. Full disclosure – we joined the club as soon as we could and have been members ever since.
Now, the Dusi family is celebrating a century of farming in Paso Robles! Please see the below press release for more information about their upcoming events to commemorate this.
THE DUSI FAMILY MARKS 100 YEARS OF FARMING PASO ROBLES ZINFANDEL
A Legacy of Five Generations
Paso Robles, CA – The Dusi family is celebrating a remarkable legacy that began in 1925 with the planting of their first vineyard. Over the past century, five generations of the Dusi family have fostered the dream of their ancestors and cultivated a reputation for producing premium winegrapes, while remaining dedicated to their community and the preservation of Paso Robles’ rich history.
Sylvester and Caterina Dusi, both Italian immigrants, purchased land, built a home and planted Zinfandel vines on a property in Paso Robles that would later become known as Benito Dusi Ranch, one of the region’s most esteemed vineyards. Their three children – Guido, Dante, Benito – worked the ranch alongside their parents, helping to grow and sell high-quality Zinfandel grapes to California vintners throughout the early 1900s. When Guido and Dante were called to war in 1944, 11-year-old Benito continued to farm and live at the ranch until his passing in 2019.
“Farming and winemaking is not just what we do; it’s who we are,” said third generation patriarch Mike Dusi. “Through determination and love for this land and this place, we’ve kept my grandparents’ dream alive for five generations…so far! Each of us is proud to continue their legacy and we all look forward to seeing what’s around the next corner.”
The Dusi family persevered through Prohibition, the Great Depression, and numerous challenges in the ever-changing wine industry. They bought additional land in 1945 and planted the Dante Dusi Vineyard, and opened one of the first tasting rooms in California in the 1950s.
Fruit from both of the family’s vineyards garnered attention over time, and the name Dusi Vineyard became one of the first in California to be included as a vineyard designation on wine labels, highlighting the family’s commitment to quality. The Dusi’s Zinfandel grapes have been sought after by renowned wineries for decades, including Ridge Vineyards, who has been purchasing from the family since 1967. Wines that bear the Dusi Vineyard designation have earned 90+ scores more than 100 times from respected critics and publications.
The third, fourth and fifth generations continue today to uphold the sustainable farming practices that have been in place for nearly a century. From head-trained vines to the use of crawler tractors, the family remains steadfast in preserving the land while embracing new techniques as they emerge. With an eye on the future, the Dusi family has integrated new varietals, established J Dusi Wines, winery and tasting room, developed Paper Street Vineyard and launched Paper Street Wines. More information: https://www.jdusiwines.com
J Dusi Wines is hosting the first of their 2025 events honoring this 100th anniversary on March 15-16, featuring the release of a commemorative 2023 Dusi Vineyard Zinfandel. Fittingly named Cent’Anni, it is bottled in jugs that pay homage to Sylvester and Caterina’s first wines. Details here: https://www.jdusiwines.com/events-and-news/
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Michael and Karen Perlis have been pursuing their passion for wine for more than 30 years. They have had the good fortune of having numerous mentors to show them the way and after a couple of decades of learning about wine, attending events, visiting wineries and vineyards, and tasting as much wine as they possibly could, they had the amazing luck to meet Eve Bushman. Michael and Karen do their best to bring as much information as possible about wine to Eve’s Wine 101 faithful readers
