Werner and Helle Siegert met at a college Christmas dance for foreign students in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1965 — he a recent immigrant from Austria, she from Denmark. They married in 1968, raised three daughters in California, and eventually moved to Quito, Ecuador for Werner's work. They often vacationed at a hacienda called La Cienega — loosely meaning "lovely pond." When it came time to retire, their eldest daughter Katja suggested coming back to California to live on the land.

In 1994, Werner and Helle found a 43-acre property in Sonoma's Alexander Valley with sweeping views, grand oaks, and a pond. They named it La Cienega. They planted 16 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon in 1997 and after the first harvest in 2001, sold their reserve-quality fruit to top Napa and Sonoma wineries for nearly two decades. The family always dreamed of making their own wine. In 2018, during harvest and just after Werner and Helle celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, Helle passed away. That same harvest turned out to be the largest and highest quality in the vineyard's history — 93 tons. The family made far more than the one barrel they had planned. Werner passed away in August 2024 while traveling in Europe. Today their daughters and grandchildren carry the vineyard forward.

La Cienega's 16 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon grow on volcanic, loamy clay soils at up to 400 feet of elevation in the southern hills of Alexander Valley, just off Chalk Hill Road. Cool nights and long growing seasons allow the grapes to develop structure and depth without losing freshness — classic Alexander Valley character. The vineyard is certified sustainable, with practices including owl boxes for natural pest control and composting to nourish the soil long-term.

Every grape cluster is hand-harvested, gently crushed, oak-aged with minimal intervention, and bottle-matured before release in limited allocations. The estate partnered with Foppiano Winery — one of Sonoma's oldest family-run operations — and award-winning winemaker Nova Perrill for the inaugural 2018 vintage. Each bottle bears an inscription honoring a member of the Siegert family.

Katja Siegert Newman — Werner and Helle's eldest daughter — leads the winery alongside her husband Sam Newman, who joined the business in 2015. The vineyard is guided by a circle of women known affectionately as the "Ladies Round Table," who keep the spirit of Helle's warmth and hospitality at the center of everything. Winemaker Nova Perrill crafts the wines in partnership with Foppiano Winery. Grandchildren of Werner and Helle — including artist Ace Giron, whose work appears on the labels — are now part of the story too.