The impressive list honors Northern California’s top business and community leaders
WINDSOR, California (April 18, 2024) – Bricoleur Vineyards is pleased to announce that the winery’s Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Sarah Hanson Citron – who’s also an advocate for cancer research – has been named to the North Bay Business Journal’s prestigious “40 Under 40” list honoring Northern California’s top business and community leaders under the age of 40.
“The best part about being under 40 in the evolving wine industry is the ability to create your own rule book. At Bricoleur Vineyards, we are taking risks, and we push ourselves to be creative in both our winemaking program and in growing our family-friendly business while also providing luxurious, high-touch hospitality experiences,” said Sarah Hanson Citron. “Our goal is to be welcoming to multigenerational families as we showcase Bricoleur Vineyards as a leading wine and food destination in Sonoma County.”
After working in digital commerce for Tory Burch and Theory for almost six years in New York, Sarah returned to her wine country roots to co-found Bricoleur Vineyards with her parents, Mark Hanson & Elizabeth Wall Hanson. Sarah carries on in the tradition of her great-great-grandfather, Pietro Carlo Rossi, who revolutionized California winemaking in the 19th century as the original oenologist for Sonoma’s Italian Swiss Colony. Sarah’s background in the fashion industry has informed her insightful decision-making, creativity, and leadership at Bricoleur Vineyards. She has seamlessly led all facets of the tasting room, culinary program, hospitality, special events, and imaginative offerings at Bricoleur Vineyards.
“Sarah is responsible for everything we do here at Bricoleur Vineyards. She’s the visionary and leader who has created our brand. I get choked up when I think of how lucky I am that I get to come to work every day with my daughter,” said Mark Hanson, the Co-Founder & CEO of Bricoleur Vineyards. “Sarah has been running our estate from the start and everything our guests experience was created by her. She steers our culinary, hospitality, tasting room, and special events teams with calm and creativity. She’s a strong and inspiring leader.”
Energetic and hands-on, Sarah leads many aspects of Bricoleur Vineyards’ business and the winery’s inventive tastings and events. Bricoleur Vineyards is known for its Perfect Pairings and Sarah has led that effort in partnership with the winery’s talented winemaking and culinary teams. Other distinctive offerings at Bricoleur Vineyards include their Essential Picnic, yoga, bocce – which guests play while enjoying Rosé in the Roses, and the estate’s chic and airy Vineyard Residence, which is available to the public.
Sarah has also become an advocate for cancer research. She was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer last year at the age of 32, and has established Bricoleur Vineyards’ Sip with Purpose campaign which raises money for cancer research funded by the V Foundation. The winery’s critically acclaimed Isla Rose Brut Rosé is named after Sarah’s daughter, Isla Rose Citron. For each bottle of Isla Rose Brut Rosé that’s purchased, Bricoleur Vineyards donates $5 to the V Foundation, and for each case that’s purchased, the Hanson Family will make a $60 matching donation to the V Foundation. The campaign has raised nearly $50,000 so far and will continue throughout the year.
About Bricoleur Vineyards
In Sonoma County’s town of Windsor, Bricoleur Vineyards serves Wine Country’s Perfect Pairings. The seasonally driven six-course Rooted pairing, three-course Soaring pairing, and Atelier Bricoleur are all pairings that guests never imagined. They’re crafted by Bricoleur Vineyards’ award-winning chefs, winemakers, and gardeners and they’re constantly evolving to reflect the seasonality of the estate’s internationally acclaimed, sustainably farmed culinary gardens. While guests explore Bricoleur Vineyards’ gorgeous Russian River Valley estate, enjoy the elegant wines at home with a recipe from one of Bricoleur Vineyards’ chefs, or join the Bricoleur team anywhere in the country for a “Bricoleur on the Road” event – Bricoleur’s allure lies in their incredible terroir that grows the best grapes, herbs, edible flowers, and produce imaginable. Guests gather, relax, and celebrate while building connections and communities around Bricoleur’s table.
Bricoleur Vineyards launched its first vintage in 2017 and opened its tasting room in 2020. It is tucked away in Sonoma’s Russian River Valley – just south of Healdsburg. Founded by the Hanson family, Bricoleur Vineyards can be found at the end of a winding road in the charming, bucolic town of Windsor, only an hour north of San Francisco – and very close to the Santa Rosa airport. The distinctive name, “Bricoleur,” is French for one who starts building something with no clear plan, adding bits here and there, cobbling together a whole while flying by the seat of their pants.
Bricoleur Vineyards is known for their Perfect Pairings, created by their lauded chefs: Culinary Advisor, James Beard Award-winning Chef Charlie Palmer; Culinary Director, Chef Thomas Bellec – who’s been distinguished as a Master Chef of France by Maîtres Cuisiniers de France and spent 23 years with Four Seasons; Executive Chef Todd Knoll, who was previously with Jordan Winery and The Ritz-Carlton; and Senior Sous Chef Rebeca Robinson.
The winemaking team is equally talented: Bob Cabral was Wine Enthusiast magazine’s Winemaker of the Year in 2011; Cary Gott is a fourth generation winemaker who founded his first winery more than 50 years ago; and Tom Pierson is a rising winemaker who’s studying at UC Davis’ prestigious oenology program. Together, the chefs and winemakers collaborate closely to create Perfect Pairings that express the seasonality of the estate’s sustainably farmed culinary garden, which won Slow Food International’s Snail of Approval for growing good, clean, and fair food.
The Hanson family’s roots run deep in Sonoma County. Mark Hanson was born in Santa Rosa, and Beth Wall Hanson’s great grandfather, Pietro Carlo Rossi, was the original oenologist for Sonoma County’s historic Italian Swiss Colony. Rossi revolutionized California winemaking in the 19th century and under his direction, the Italian Swiss Colony became one of America’s leading wineries. Co-Founder Sarah Hanson Citron is the estate’s energetic, creative, hands-on COO and leads many aspects of Bricoleur Vineyards’ business and the winery’s inventive offerings. Philanthropy is important to the Hanson family, and serving their community goes hand-in-hand with their warm hospitality.
Bricoleur Vineyards has been featured on The TODAY Show, and they have been honored by USA Today as one of the 10Best New Wineries in the country. Bricoleur Vineyards is open Thursday – Monday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. by appointment only and reservations can be made by visiting www.bricoleurvineyards.com or by calling 707-857-5700. Bricoleur Vineyards is close to the Santa Rosa airport, which accommodates both commercial and private planes, and it’s only an hour away from both San Francisco and Sacramento airports. Bricoleur Vineyards is located at 7394 Starr Road in Windsor, California and can be found on Instagram @bricoleurvineyards. One-of-a-kind lodging is also available in Bricoleur Vineyards’ spacious Vineyard Residence.
