After Her Husband and Ferrari-Carano Co-Founder Don Carano Passed Away, Rhonda Carano Steps into New Position
December 5, 2017; (HEALDSBURG, Calif.)—Rhonda Carano, co-founder of Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery alongside her late husband Don Carano, assumes the position of Senior Executive Officer and Manager for the Ferrari-Carano family of brands. Don Carano passed away on October 3, 2017.
Like Don Carano, Rhonda Carano is a second-generation Italian-American and a native of Reno, Nevada. The Caranos first fell in love with Sonoma Wine Country in the late 1970s, on trips from Reno to source wines for their hotel/casino, the Eldorado Resort Casino. Since Ferrari-Carano is the shared vision of Don and Rhonda Carano, where they co-managed the company since its inception in 1981, the transition to Rhonda’s new role will be seamless.
“As a team, Don and I shared a dream,” Rhonda Carano says. “His insight and visionary approach in the wine industry back in the early 1980s–particularly his love for acquiring special vineyard sites–is the backbone of Ferrari-Carano’s philosophy of creating memorable wines from vine to bottle.”
Rhonda Carano drives Ferrari-Carano’s growth strategies and is dedicated to maintaining the Ferrari-Carano brands’ “best-of-class” positions. She brings to the role 40 years of experience in business management, marketing, advertising and creative design at Eldorado Resorts Inc.; Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery; Lazy Creek Vineyards; Seasons of the Vineyard Tasting Bar and Boutique; Vintners Inn and John Ash & Co. Restaurant.
She says, “Words cannot express my personal sadness, but I, with the talented team of individuals we have, will continue to honor Don’s memory through our dedication to quality and consistency without compromise. The trademark of Ferrari-Carano is our people, our vineyards and the positive family team spirit we all share.”
Ferrari-Carano marked its 35th Anniversary in 2017, releasing their first nationally-distributed rosé, the 2016 Dry Sangiovese Rosé, to national acclaim. Vintners Inn, Ferrari-Carano’s 4-Diamond boutique resort property in nearby Santa Rosa, opened River Vine Café, a new, onsite breakfast/lunch restaurant and event space. Additional openings are slated for 2018 at Vintners Inn, including the opening of all-new deluxe guest rooms and suites, and a full-service, 5,000-square-foot spa. In January 2018, Ferrari-Carano will release the 25th Anniversary Siena, the Sangiovese-based red wine blend.
For more information about Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery, please visit www.Ferrari-Carano.com.
About Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery
Founded initially as a small wine farm in 1981 by hospitality-industry pioneers Don and Rhonda Carano, the Ferrari-Carano family of brands now comprises the very best in hospitality, wine and food experiences in California’s North Bay region. The portfolio comprises destination wineries in Sonoma (Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery) and Mendocino (Lazy Creek Vineyards) counties; three wine production facilities; 24 certified-sustainable estate-owned vineyards spanning more than 1,900 acres across three counties; the 44-room Vintners Inn and John Ash & Co. Restaurant; and Seasons of the Vineyard Tasting Bar & Boutique in Healdsburg. Ferrari-Carano is one of the region’s leaders, setting the bar for the highest standard in hospitality, wine quality and sustainability.
