Portrait of Steve Tonella
i. Biography
Steve Tonella is president and fourth-generation vintner of S. R. Tonella Cellars in Rutherford, where family continuity and Rutherford fruit define the work. A business background informs the operation, but the center of gravity remains the vineyard and cellar.
The Sunday email
Read about winemakers like Steve Tonella in the Sunday email.
Every Sunday we send a lead story and up to four more about the chefs, winemakers, sommeliers and hoteliers behind the restaurants, bars, wineries and hotels we cover.
Recent stories
Free. One email a week, and you can unsubscribe from any issue.
The Path
Training at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo gave Steve Tonella a formal starting point before he moved into sales leadership positions in the high-tech industry. That work took him through Rome, Italy; Barcelona, Spain; England; and Japan. He later returned to the family business, where the vineyard and wine company remain the focus.
The Work Today
The current production note is centered on the cellar and vineyard he leads. Two bottlings mark that work: Reserve Rutherford Semillon, 2022, and Reserve Rutherford Sauvignon Blanc, 2022. Steve Tonella has described wine in social terms: “Wine is important to me because it brings people together regardless of their opinions their beliefs and their background.”
Signature
Steve Tonella's signature wines include S.R. Tonella Cellars Rutherford Bench Cabernet Sauvignon, S.R. Tonella 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2014 Cabernet, Reserve Rutherford Semillon, and Reserve Rutherford Sauvignon Blanc.
In Their Words “Wine is important to me because it brings people together regardless of their opinions their beliefs and their background.”
Acclaim
Board service at the Rutherford Dust Society placed Steve Tonella inside the appellation’s working community, in a role connected to the ground around his own production.
FAQ
Asked of Steve
What is Steve Tonella's current role?
As of 2026, Steve Tonella is President and fourth-generation Vintner.
Where did Steve Tonella train or study?
Steve Tonella trained at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
Explore
Similar Winemakers
The Sunday email
Read about winemakers like Steve Tonella in the Sunday email.
Every Sunday we send a lead story and up to four more about the chefs, winemakers, sommeliers and hoteliers behind the restaurants, bars, wineries and hotels we cover.
Recent stories
Free. One email a week, and you can unsubscribe from any issue.