Petaluma Gap’s hidden gem invites the local community and beyond to join in a year-round celebration of its rich Mexican heritage through a series of vibrant events.
February 26, 2025 (Sonoma County, CA) — Keller Estate is celebrating an exciting year of milestones, including the appointment of renowned winemaker Theresa Heredia as a consultant and the launch of The Heritage Series, a collection of events that commemorates the Keller family’s Mexican roots.
General Manager and second-generation vintner Ana Keller will continue leading the winegrowing and winemaking of the estate’s cool-climate Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays, and Syrahs. Meanwhile, in her role as consultant, Theresa Heredia will bring fresh perspective and knowledge to enhancing the principal tenets of the estate: quality, organic and regenerative farming practices, and crafting wines that truly capture the distinctive character of the Petaluma Gap AVA—an appellation Keller was instrumental in establishing in 2017.
In 2008, Heredia became head winemaker at Freestone Vineyards, where her Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays earned critical acclaim. Heredia joined Gary Farrell Winery in 2012 as winemaker and was promoted to director of winemaking in 2021, overseeing more than 40 vineyards from Sonoma to Santa Barbara: “I’m thrilled to join the Keller team as consultant winemaker. The unique vineyards in the Petaluma Gap, my long admiration for Ana and the winery’s vision, and the honor of working with a Mexican American family-owned winery make this opportunity truly special.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Theresa to the team,” remarks Keller. “With two decades of winemaking experience in cool-climate regions, she brings invaluable expertise and passion not only for winemaking but also for wine as a conduit for celebrating our heritage and our community.”
Keller Estate’s calendar of events underlines this passion: to bring the estate’s vibrant culture out of the vineyard and cellar, to be shared and enjoyed as a collective. The Heritage Series will feature a robust lineup of events, including the Summer Solstice Celebration: Salsa Under the Stars on June 21, two exclusive Salsa Luncheons on April 27 and September 27, weekly Lotería Nights, and the annual Día De Los Muertos celebration on November 1.
Events manager and talented chef Claudia Little will lead the two salsa luncheons paired with Keller Estate wines. Each wine-paired experience will include an engaging demonstration, where Claudia will share traditional salsa-making techniques and the stories behind the families of Keller Estate’s cherished salsa recipes. In addition, Keller Estate will host Lotería Nights every Thursday — a lively, colorful Mexican version of bingo.
With Heredia’s winemaking expertise and a determined commitment to engaging the community at large, Keller Estate is poised for continued growth, crafting wines that honor both its heritage and its future.
About Keller Estate
Keller Estate is a Mexican-American, family-owned winery nestled in the Petaluma Gap AVA, a unique stretch of windswept landmarked by the wind and fog that is funneled from the cold northern Pacific coast between mountains and the bay to the warm inland valley. The Keller family brings a rich, multicultural heritage to the estate winery, and since its founding in 1983, they have remained committed to organic farming and regenerative growing practices to produce estate bottlings of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah that reflect their distinct terroir. The winery is led by Ana Keller, daughter of founders Arturo and Deborah Keller, who oversees a minimal intervention approach resulting in elegant, age-worthy, and food-friendly wines.
