Back to our roots

Wine has always been at the heart of Ben and Yolanda Papapietro’s lives. Growing up in a San Francisco Italian family, Ben learned that wine was meant to be shared around the table, inspired by his grandfather’s homemade blends. Yolanda embraced that same passion, leaving her successful insurance career to help build Papapietro Perry Winery. Their philosophy remains unchanged: authentic, welcoming, and unpretentious.

The winery’s story began in the early 1980s when Ben invited longtime friend Bruce Perry to help him during harvest and to make wine in his garage. That experience sparked Bruce’s passion for winemaking, and the two began crafting Pinot Noir in Ben’s garage. As their wines gained recognition, they established Papapietro Perry Winery in Sonoma County. Soon after, Renae Perry left her Silicon Valley marketing career to join the winery and now leads its business operations, sales, and marketing.

This year, we’re returning to where so much of our story began—San Francisco. We’re delighted to host a special luncheon at the iconic Sam’s Grill, a beloved San Francisco institution that has been welcoming guests since 1897. It is a fitting place to celebrate our roots, share our wines, and raise a glass with friends old and new in the city that helped shape the Papapietro Perry story.

Learn Sam’s complete history here – Sam’s Grill