Passaggio Wines

Passaggio Artisan Winery: A Legacy of Flavor

Located in the heart of historic Sonoma Square, Passaggio Wines offers handcrafted wines that celebrate a new generation of fruit-forward, terroir-driven, and food-friendly selections. Founded by Cynthia Cosco in 2007, the name "Passaggio" translates to "passageway" in Italian, reflecting her family's immigration story from Italy to the United States in the early 20th century.

The Winemaker's Journey

Before becoming a winemaker, Cynthia Cosco spent 15 years in law enforcement in Virginia. In 2004, she relocated to California, where she began her wine career working in a liquor store. She later became the lab manager at Crushpad in San Francisco, eventually taking on the role of winemaker for white wines. It was during this time that she launched Passaggio Wines with just fifty cases of Unoaked Chardonnay, and today, production has grown to approximately 1,700 cases.

A Diverse Selection of Wines

Passaggio Wines features a variety of grape varieties, including Unoaked Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Tempranillo Rosé, Pinot Noir, Fiano, Muscat Canelli, Rosso, Bordeaux Red Blend, and unique varietals like Trousseau Gris. The Unoaked Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio are crafted without malolactic fermentation and aged in stainless steel, while the dry rosé is aptly named “Rose Colored Glasses.”

New Generation Wines

Cynthia also produces a series known as New Generation, which includes experimental varietals and wines beyond the standard offerings. This series features Sauvignon Blanc, and in 2015, she introduced a Merlot Rosé. Notably, Passaggio’s 2014 New Generation Sauvignon Blanc, sourced from Russian River AVA grapes, received a commendable 90 points from Wine Enthusiast in 2016.