Fresno State Students Open Family Winery

A family tradition from Croatia is now inspiring two Fresno State students to make their own wine. Cole Nale says he and his brother Caleb were inspired on a recent visit to the old country. When they returned home to the U.S. they decided to make wine in Central California.

Things weren’t easy at the beginning as the first couple of batches were really bad. “Turns out that batch of wine was the worst wine you could ever drink but from there a hobby started and my dad grabbed it and ran with it,” Caleb said.

After years of trial and error the Nale family found a basic process that worked . Cole said they start by picking the grapes and then sort them to get all of the bad grapes out. Fermentation then takes place but after that depends on the winemaker.

The Nales put some of their wine into barrels. Caleb said, “In the barrel it will attract oak out of the barrel and it will go through a secondary fermentation called malolactic fermentation turning that malo acid into lactic acid.”

The Nale family fixed up their barn and opened up Ziveli Winery. They not only sell wine but also host other events. “We have ironically baby showers, family reunions and we have tables inside for very nice dinners,” Caleb said.

Cole says the main goal is to put Fresno on the map for wineries and they will continue to do that as they expand their own winery who’s roots started in Croatia but are firmly planted now in Central California. 

The winery is located at 5840 N. Biola Ave.