THE STORY OF ZIVELI
We’re not saying it’s magical, but sometimes, while sipping a Ziveli wine, you can feel the salty wind off the Adriatic Sea.
Ziveli Winery was created by the Nale family. We are proud to bring the spirit of Croatian wine to the San Joaquin Valley. Our roots are in the Dalmatian region, directly across the Adriatic Sea from Italy. We share the same Mediterranean climate and zest for life, so it’s no surprise that we love growing grapes and making incredible wine.
We have grown grapes for decades near Fresno, California. After a trip to the old country and the eye-opening experience of tasting our ancestors’ wines, our son Cole was the first to suggest we take up the family mantle and start crushing grapes ourselves. In that spirit, Ziveli was born.
video
The Ziveli Family Team
+
+
+
+
+John & Rondi Nale, Owners
John Nale had worked his family’s vineyards for decades and always dreamed about making wine. His son Cole approached him, inspired by a family trip to Croatia, and convinced him that now was the time to build a winery. He has a larger-than-life personality who loves sharing the family vision for wine-making. But he’s just as likely to be out in the vineyards with his sleeves rolled up as he is to be in the tasting room.
Rondi Nale is responsible for all the creativity you see around the tasting room. If you visit, she will probably be one of the first to greet you. The “unseen side” of Rondi is the hardworking manager making everything work smoothly in the background.
John & Rondi Nale can be contacted at ziveliwinery@gmail.com.
Cole Nale, Winemaker
Cole Nale was the first of the Nale family to get excited about wine-making. He convinced his father to start the venture that has become Ziveli Winery. He is now the lead winemaker of all of Ziveli’s newest creations.
Cole Nale can be contacted at ziveliwinery@gmail.com.
Hannah Marie, Director of Social Media Marketing
Hannah is the owner of HansHappenings, her event styling business. Be on the lookout for her exciting pop-up events at Ziveli. She helps coordinate Ziveli events, along with serving behind the bar on weekends.
Hannah Marie can be contacted at HansHappenings@gmail.com.
Hunter Nale, Assistant
The youngest Nale, Hunter helps wherever he’s needed but mostly manages the making of wood-fired pizzas at Brick L’Oven on the weekends. We can also credit him for taking care of the winery dogs and chickens!
Hunter Nale can be contacted at ziveliwinery@gmail.com.
The Brick L’oven Team
Jasmine and Caleb Nale, Owners of Brick L’oven Pizza
Stay in touch
We have emails to help everyone stay connected. Sign up and keep up to date on upcoming wine releases and winery events. You don’t want to miss out!