Open:Â Year Round
About Us:Â
Bill and Stephanie Prioste, owners and creators of Windmill Ridge Winery, are long term residents of Tracy, California. As they neared retirement age, they moved to their property at the north side of town and discovered grapes growing at the rear of the half acre of land.
Their present property manager, Jorge Violante, suggested Bill try making wine and the rest, as they say, is history. After creating a tasty red blend, they put in their first vineyard of cabernet sauvignon grapes. When the property could not be bonded due to zoning, their search for new land started.
They located and moved to their present location in November of 2004 and put in the vineyard of Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in June of 2005. The first harvest of their own grapes was fall 2007 and will be the foundation their estate wines which will be available for sale in 2010
Bill sold his business, Tracy Awards and Embroidery, created 23 years previously, in order to be able to supervise the building of the winery and venue. Stephanie returned to administration in education to ease the cost of building and has retired again in 2010 to work full time with the winery. They are excited to be open and are enjoying meeting the wonderful people who come to taste the wines and enjoy the winery. Events have been fabulous, and watching the clients enjoy their events. They are especially grateful to have been voted the Best New Winery in 2008 by the San Joaquin Magazine readers and Business of the Year by the Tracy Chamber of Commerce.
