For Rob, it has been a joyful journey guiding Paratus Vineyards from a little-known producer of chardonnay grapes to the source of the prestigious and sought-after cabernet sauvignon that it is today. From initially establishing the cabernet sauvignon vineyard over two decades ago, to assembling a team of top-notch winemakers and grapegrowing experts, and to the development of its unique wine brand, Rob has patiently built a boutique operation that produces world-class wines of exceptional quality.

As a boy growing up on Wisconsin farmlands, a deep connection to the land was fostered in him. After a successful career as a big-city marketing and media executive, he felt a desire to return to these roots and build a life in the country. He and his family found heaven on the forested, dramatic hillsides of Napa Valley’s western flank in a redwood-studded spread with orchards, forests, and a dramatic 12-acre vineyard. It fills him with awe to witness, year after year, nature’s forces and the estate’s terroir combine to produce a grape crop and a wine that is a standout in its complexity and distinctiveness.

Massimo heads the winemaking team with a strong assist from his brother, Mario. The Monticelli brothers would have had a hard time being anything other than winemakers, given the fact that the subject of wine in their four-generation family of winemakers is nothing less than sacred. The tradition that began with their great-grandfather in Italy continues on in Massimo and Mario, who honed their wine knowledge in the enology and viticulture program at UC Davis. The resumes of both men are dotted with glittering names, such as Silver Oak, Caldwell, Constant, and Vineyard 29, as well as their own Monticelli Brothers label. Rob feels very fortunate to have the brothers on the Paratus winemaking team. “They are serious winemakers, but don’t take themselves too seriously. For them, it’s always foremost about the grapes and how to coax the essence of our remarkable Mount Veeder terroir into Paratus.”