Highway 12
Overview
Estate
Highway 12 Winery is a Sonoma, California wine producer founded in 2004 by longtime friends Paul Giusto and Michael Sebastiani. The two had joined forces to create Generations of Sonoma, a wine company built around local vineyards, long-term grower relationships, and Sonoma heritage, before launching Highway 12 Winery. The Highway 12 name refers to the California wine corridor running through Sonoma Valley and Carneros and extending through other California growing regions.
Vineyards
The winery's model is based on long-term partnerships with grape growers and access to established vineyards along the Highway 12 corridor: MacLeod Vineyard near Kenwood for Sauvignon Blanc, La Prenda Vineyard just south of Clarksburg for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Serres Vineyard in Sonoma Valley for Merlot, and Quarry Hill Vineyard near Highway 12 within the Sonoma Botanical Gardens for the Reserve Red Blen
Cultivation
Highway 12 emphasizes long-term grower relationships and vineyard selection as central to its production model. The winery describes these relationships as partnerships built over decades.
Family
Highway 12 was created by Paul Giusto and Michael Sebastiani, longtime friends and business partners. The company describes its project as being rooted in heritage, friendship, and local vineyards. Michael Sebastiani represents a longstanding Sonoma winemaking family tradition, while Paul Giusto brings his own Sonoma Valley wine-industry and business background.
Winemaker
Paul Giusto and Michael Sebastiani are identified as the founders and winemakers/co-winemakers of Highway 12. Michael Sebastiani studied fermentation science at UC Davis and worked in his family's wine business from a young age before becoming a winemaker at Viansa in 1995. Paul Giusto is described as overseeing winemaking with Michael while also managing general business operations, sales, marketing and strategic objectives. Their stated approach is centered on selecting high-quality fruit and allowing the vineyards and growing regions to express themselves without unnecessary intervention.
Focus Point
• Founded in 2004 by longtime friends Paul Giusto and Michael Sebastiani.
• Highway 12 name refers to a historic California wine corridor through Sonoma Valley and Carneros and into other California growing regions.
• Grower-partnership model rather than a single estate vineyard.
• Long-term relationships with family-owned and established growers.
Marketing materials
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Highway 12 logo
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