Vincenzo’s son, Benedetto, had three children, including Tom, who is the proprietor of Celani Family Vineyards. Tom began his love of wine in the 1960s, helping his grandfather make his own table wine. From these early days, Tom went into the distribution and selling of beer and wine in the Metro Detroit area working for his father. Together they grew their company, Action Distributors, into one of the largest Miller Beer distributors in the U.S.
It was then that he discovered the public’s excitement for trying the new California wines, although not at the time respected as worthy competitors to the classic French and Italian vintages. In 1983 he began to seriously collect wine, even traveling to Europe to visit vineyards. His passion for fine wine was deepening.
“If we never bottled more than 10 barrels of Ardore a year I would be satisfied, because our commitment is always going to be to quality.”
Tom Celani, Proprietor
As the proprietor of the Celani Family Vineyards, Tom has chosen to bottle wine without costs becoming a consideration. This is about quality, not quantity. The greatest compliment he could receive is to have a perfect stranger tell him that his premiere vintage Ardore is the best wine that he — or she — has ever tasted.
In little more than one lifetime his descendants have succeeded in transplanting so much of the enduring culture of their native land to their new home in America. Now it is yours to enjoy with the introduction of the Celani Family Vineyards.
The Family + Team
Vicki & Tom Celani
Proprietors
Olivia Celani
Director of Operations & Creative
Harry Oranges
Hospitality & Sales Leader
Matt Sherburn
Assistant Winemaker
Dustin Owen
Director of Winemaking
Mark Herold
Winemaker Emeritus
Vicki & Tom Celani
Proprietors
Tom Celani and Vicki Celani are the heart behind Celani Family Vineyards. Native Michiganders, they purchased the estate in 2005, driven by a shared love of wine that grew alongside their marriage. As avid collectors, they traveled the world expanding their palates and curiosity, always approaching wine with joy, openness, and a sense of adventure. Tom’s tenacious spirit fuels bold ideas and forward momentum, while Vicki’s gracious presence brings balance, care, and warmth to everything they build together.
Their partnership is defined by deep personal connection and a truly hands-on approach. Tom and Vicki seamlessly blend family life and winery life, dividing their time between Michigan and California and staying closely involved in every meaningful decision. From personally hand-sorting grapes during harvest to shaping the direction of the wines and vineyards, they lead side by side. Together, they embody a rare mix of grit and grace, proving that great wine is built not just on land and craft, but on trust, teamwork, and heart.
Olivia Celani
Director of Operations & Creative
Olivia Celani is guiding Celani Family Vineyards into a new era. Originally from Michigan, she arrived in California in 2010 to attend the University of San Diego and soon found her home in Napa Valley. With deep respect for her parents’ legacy, Olivia carries the family vision forward with a gracious heart and a tenacious spirit, honoring the past while thoughtfully shaping what comes next.
As the dynamic force behind daily operations and creative direction, Olivia oversees the winery’s many moving parts with focus, confidence, and care. Leading a small, hands-on team, she is known for tackling complex projects simultaneously while making bold, strategic decisions that welcome both new and longtime audiences. Her leadership reflects a rare balance of warmth and resolve, blending tradition with innovation to ensure the Celani story continues to grow with purpose and integrity.
Harry Oranges
Hospitality & Sales Leader
Harry Oranges adds magic to every encounter. A seasoned hospitality professional with over a decade of experience in sales and marketing, Harry brings a storyteller’s instinct to everything he does. As a former Disneyland cast member and award-winning Concierge, he developed a signature style of personalized service rooted in presence, empathy, and surprise and delight. Based in Napa Valley since 2010, Harry holds a deep appreciation for the region and its community, believing the true magic of hospitality lives in small moments of genuine connection.
With a passion for crafting memorable guest experiences for small, family-owned companies, Harry has been entrusted with stewarding the brand experience for all existing and new Celani clients. When he’s not sharing wine and stories with guests, you’ll find him hiking a trail, spending time with his daughter Matilda, or cutting through a dance floor.
Matt Sherburn
Assistant Winemaker
Matt Sherburn is a cornerstone of Celani Family Vineyards and someone the family and team deeply rely on and admire. Born and raised in Sonoma, California, Matt began his winemaking career at Ravenswood Winery in 1995, where he spent over a decade of dedication in the cellar (and sharpening his legendary barbecue skills).
As his cellar expertise became undeniable, Matt moved into full-time production leadership, eventually serving as lead cellar worker has been overseeing fruit intake, the crush pad, and coordination with bottling during the peak harvest. In 2005, he helped bottle the first Celani Family Vineyards vintage and took over production beginning in 2006. Beyond being a deft cellarmaster and winemaker, Matt is many things: a precision forklift driver, a collector and builder of aeromodels, a competitive barbecue champion, and a natural community gatherer. His steady presence, craftsmanship, and generosity of spirit are integral to who we are at Celani.
Dustin Owen
Director of Winemaking
Dustin Owen leads winemaking with a dynamic energy rooted in regenerative farming and nature-led practices. He believes every vineyard strives toward greatness and that each site must be guided thoughtfully to reach its full potential. A blend of old-world tradition and modern technique, Dustin’s path includes time in Burgundy, where he learned finesse and respect for wine culture, and Australia, where he gained an appreciation for efficiency and site-driven growing.
Based in Napa since 2012, Dustin has worked with both large wineries and family estates, experiences that shaped his hands-on, decisive approach. At Celani Family Vineyards, he focuses on bringing life and energy into the vineyard and cellar, crafting wines that are deeply textured, balanced, age-worthy, and enjoyable in their youth. When he’s not in the vineyard or cellar, Dustin enjoys backpacking, cycling, golf, mushroom hunting, and cooking. He lives in Napa with his wife Jennifer, their daughter Marley, and their dog, Burt Reynolds.
Mark Herold
Winemaker Emeritus
For two decades, Mark Herold helped define the Celani style. His influence is deeply woven into the estate, shaping wines rooted in boldness & integrity. The Celani family remains deeply grateful for Mark’s vision, craft, and the enduring legacy he helped build.
Introduced through Tom’s longtime friend John Shafer of Shafer Vineyards, Mark stood out immediately for his thoughtful, science-driven approach and respect for the land. He discovered his passion for wine in 1992 while volunteering during harvest as an Ecology Ph.D. candidate at University of California, Davis, and later served as Lead Enologist at Joseph Phelps Vineyards before founding Merus Wines. Known internationally for his winemaking philosophy Mark’s commitment to vineyard ecology and expressive winemaking continues to shape the spirit of Celani Wines today.