For years, Vinnie and Natalie at Russian River kept it small. Local. They insisted that growth must happen organically. Sure, their beers had long ago become legendary, and the pub was getting more crowded every day—but they were comfortable with their size and scale.
According to an interview I listened to on The Brewing Network, that all changed when Natalie ran into an old friend and taproom regular at the market. When Natalie asked why she hadn't seen them around lately, her friend confessed that it was just too difficult to drop in and get a seat anymore. The wait times. The crowds. Natalie knew then that it was time to build a facility that could handle all the tourism, fulfill the increased demand—and still allow the pub to go back to the locals in Santa Rosa.
It took a few years, but over time the Cilurzos purchased back all the shares from their investors. Once they had control, they obtained a sizable bank loan and built a beautiful, state-of-the-art facility. Pulling into the parking lot is always my favorite part of bringing my out-of-town friends to the brewery. Their jaws collectively drop at the sight of the new Russian River: a vast departure from its early pub days.
The size has changed, but Russian River's ethos hasn't. The Cilurzos have been savvy with their decisions, and have remained dedicated to the people of Sonoma County—especially during the fires that have ravaged this community over the last few years. The best part of my latest visit was seeing Vinnie in action: still rolling barrels, running the forklift, and putting together blends. They may have built this giant new brewery, but he is still the same as he ever was.
