Robert Biale Vineyards Announces the Passing of Clementina Biale (1929 – 2017)

Clementina Biale, matriarch of the Biale family, surrounded by her family, peacefully passed away in her home and beloved vineyards, on Wednesday, April 5, 2017, in Napa.

 

In 1953, Clementina, born Clementina Calvi, emigrated from Prunetto, Italy to Napa, following her marriage to Aldo Biale. She  raised four children with Aldo, and became  instrumental in operating the family farm in Napa. This ranch became famous for producing walnuts, prunes, produce, chickens, eggs, and acres of Zinfandel – much of which is now old vines, planted in 1937. The family vineyard, which lies within the Oak Knoll District of Napa, is the oldest vineyard in the district, and remains an icon of early Napa Valley grape growing.

 

Aldo predeceased Clementina, in 2009.

 

Thanks to her constant devotion and support, Cementina helped Aldo, her son Robert, and their partners, to realize a dream of founding a winery dedicated to Zinfandel, in 1991. Today, the Robert Biale Vineyards winery is now renowned for producing some of California’s finest examples of heritage vineyard Zinfandel.

 

Clementina and Aldo took great joy in sharing their artisan wines. They both appreciated telling their old stories with friends and the winery’s legion of devoted customers; all of whom they treated as extended family. In retirement, Clementina spent Sunday afternoons greeting customers at the Napa winery, and thorougly enjoyed restocking the supply of her custom-designed and hand-sewn aprons and totes.

 

The rosary will be held on Monday, April 10, 2017; 7:00 p.m., at Claffey and Rota Funeral Home, in Napa. A devotional Mass of the Resurrection will be held on Tuesday, April 11; 10:00 a.m., at St. Apollinaris Catholic Church in Napa.

 

For more information contact:

Dave Pramuk, dave@biale.com

707.257.7555