Stewards of Animal and Vine

Their passions for the outdoors, fine wine, and horses attracted the Bonavito family to the natural splendor of Toyon Farm in Carneros. To be the stewards of such hallowed ground is an honor and a privilege, as the property has produced some of the finest wines of the Los Carneros appellation. In addition to its world-class vines, Toyon Farm is also one of California’s finest equestrian facilities. Here, the family rides daily, while also growing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and bottling it under the label Cavalli e Vigne, which translates from Italian as “Horses and Vines.”

ABOUT THE VINEYARD

Our People

Natalia Bonavito

Vintner and Proprietor

From an early age, Natalia’s days were filled with outdoor adventures, fostering a deep connection to nature and animals. Her first passion, horses, began in childhood, sparked by a fascination with Walter Farley’s novel The Black Stallion. Natalia spent most of her childhood horse-back riding and always staying connected to the outdoors. After moving away for college and pursuing a career in the corporate world, Natalia returned to her family in Napa Valley during the COVID-19 pandemic. Surrounded once again by nature, including her beloved horses and the region’s renowned vineyards, she discovered a new passion for wine, inspired by the area’s rich winemaking heritage. Fueled by this newfound enthusiasm, Natalia shifted her career path and enrolled in an oenology program at UC Davis to develop her knowledge in winemaking. With her family, she established Cavalli e Vigne, meaning ‘Horses and Vines’ in Italian. Today, Natalia manages operations at Cavalli e Vigne, where she blends her love for nature with her passion for wine, helping create exceptional wines that honor both her past and her present.

Danielle Bonavito

Proprietor

Danielle practices the equestrian discipline of Dressage at Toyon Farm. She aspires to compete on an international level. Danielle is a United States Dressage Foundation Bronze, Silver, and Gold medalist. Though much of her time is spent training, she also shares a passion for the finest wines with her sister.

Ken Bernards

Consulting Winemaker

Ken’s vision, attention to detail, and uncompromising approach to winemaking are what initially drew us to him. Originally from Oregon, his backyard would provide the curiosity and inspiration from the few trailblazers in the Oregon wine scene at the time. His growing interest in wine would lead him to obtain his degree in chemistry from Oregon State University, and in 1986, he would work his first Napa Valley harvest. Ken started as a research enologist at Domaine Chandon, designing and performing his own experiments in viticulture and enology. Ultimately, Ken’s passion called for more than just experimentation. A trip to Burgundy, France, would inspire his artistic approach, making wines that express the nuance and individuality of each vineyard. In the 90’s, Ken produced single vineyard expressions for Truchard Vineyards, and in 1998 he left to make his own wines full time under his Ancien label. Ken has made wines from the Willamette Valley, Santa Rita Hills, Napa Valley, and even as far as Burgundy, France, amongst others, and today consults across multiple labels. He has been making wines from our property for over 26 years and has an intimate knowledge of every inch of our vineyard. We’re incredibly honored and proud to call him our winemaker.

Grant Yeargain

Brand Director

Grant’s passion for hospitality and his love of wine is rivaled by few. A native to southern California, Grant grew up in North County San Diego, where the ocean and sandy beaches were in his purview, not wine. He’d begin his journey in an unlikely place: Texas. Grant started initially in the vineyard with a small family-run operation, with his first task being retraining 2 ½ acres of estate vines. He eventually moved into production but found his penchant for sales and hospitality calling him away from the cellar. His ambitions set his sights back once again on California, knowing that he wanted to work in the most competitive and prestigious region in America: The Napa Valley. Grant started in 2016 working with legendary winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown as Hestan’s Director of Sales and Hospitality. After working with Thomas for some years, he would go on to work with other legends such as Peter Gago (Penfolds), most recently Jeff Ames (TOR), and now adds Ken Bernards to that list. Grant looks forward to welcoming all to our Napa estate.

Cavalli E Vigne was created in harmony with the natural surroundings and unique terroir of Toyon Farm.

EXPERIENCE THE WINES

About the Artwork

Grapevines and our horses are both endlessly elegant and mysterious to the Bonavito family. The Cavalli e Vigne artwork expresses connection with place, the intimate bond formed between horse and rider, and the exhilarating feeling of riding through the vineyard on horseback.

Toyon Farm

“Wine is sunlight held together by water.” – Galileo Galilei

TOYON FARM WEBSITE