Guglielmo Winery

The story of Guglielmo Winery begins with Francesco Giuseppe Emilio Guglielmo, born in 1883 in an alpine village in Piemonte, Italy. Emigrating through Ellis Island in 1909, Emilio worked his way westward to San Francisco, where he labored tirelessly at a local tannery, carefully saving each paycheck. He soon sent for his village sweetheart, Emilia, who worked at a laundry upon her arrival. Bound by faith, Italian tradition, and a shared vision of one day owning land and building a family winery, the young couple saved their combined earnings for fifteen years to turn their modest dream into an enduring reality.

In 1925 they were able to purchase 15 acres of rich agricultural land in Morgan Hill—a fertile region then affectionately known as the "Valley of Heart’s Delight" due to its bountiful orchards and vibrant farming community. It was here that the Emilio Guglielmo Winery was formally established. Even through the severe economic challenges of Prohibition, Emilio continued to craft hearty, Italian-style wines for a loyal network of French, Swiss, and Italian patrons from the Santa Clara Valley to San Francisco. When Prohibition ended in 1933, the family constructed the winery’s very first official building, marking a monumental milestone for a heritage that would pass through multiple generations.

The winery’s operations evolved significantly when Emilio and Emilia’s son, George W. Guglielmo—who was proudly named after George Washington after being born on the president's birthday—returned from serving in World War II. In 1945 George W. and his wife Madeline took over leadership, expanding the estate vineyards and bringing their wines directly to local restaurants and consumers. By the late 1960s and 1970s, the leadership baton transitioned to the third generation of brothers: George E., Gene, and Gary. This era ushered in groundbreaking technical innovations, including refrigerated stainless steel fermentation tanks and small oak cooperage, culminating in the release of the winery's first premium varietal wine, a 1969 estate-bottled Petite Sirah.

Having proudly celebrated its Centennial Anniversary in 2025, Guglielmo Winery stands today as an historic cornerstone of Northern California’s winemaking heritage. Now a fourth-generation family estate, the winery produces upwards of 40,000 cases of award-winning wine annually under three distinct labels: Guglielmo Private Reserve, Tre, and their oldest historic label, Emile’s. While the business has grown to manage over 100 acres of estate and premium California vineyards, it remains deeply attached to its origins; the original 1925 family home has been repurposed into winery offices, and the historic Prohibition-era secret cellar is still actively used to store and age up to 20,000 gallons of wine, preserving the place where Emilio and Emilia’s dream started.