In 1989, Arturo and Deborah Keller planted their first Chardonnay vines on 650 acres of California hillside — a bold move for a man who had built his career manufacturing automotive seats in Mexico City. Arturo came to Sonoma by way of Mexico, where his Swiss family had settled generations earlier. "Keller" means "cellar" in German — a fitting name, as it turned out, for what the family was about to build.

Their daughter Ana joined the venture in 1998, and the first vintage followed in 2000. Ana went on to play a central role in the recognition of the Petaluma Gap as an official AVA in 2017 — a milestone that brought formal recognition to the cool, wind-driven terroir her family had been farming for nearly three decades. Every wine at Keller Estate carries a Spanish name, a deliberate tribute to the family's Mexican heritage and the culture that shaped them. Arturo passed away, but his legacy lives on in every bottle — and in the three generations of Kellers now working the estate together.

The Petaluma Gap is defined by wind — a natural corridor that funnels cool Pacific air through the hills of southern Sonoma, dropping temperatures dramatically and extending the growing season far beyond what nearby appellations experience. Keller Estate sits in the heart of this wind channel on Lakeville Highway in Petaluma, where the conditions are ideal for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah with natural acidity, restrained alcohol, and genuine freshness.

The estate committed to organic farming in 2022, with CCOF certification expected in 2025. All farming is regenerative and estate-grown. Winemaker Theresa Heredia — one of California's most respected voices for cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay — leads winemaking with a philosophy that honors what the site naturally provides: elegance, balance, and food-friendliness above all else.

Ana Keller is the winemaker and steward of the estate, having grown up in the vineyard and dedicated her career to championing the Petaluma Gap as a world-class wine region. Theresa Heredia leads winemaking. Angelica Hallinan manages hospitality. Grace Keller, Ana's family member, creates the original artwork that appears on every label — making each vintage a reflection of the family's creative spirit as much as their farming. Three generations of Kellers continue working the land that Arturo and Deborah first planted over 35 years ago.