(May 3, 2025) One spring afternoon in 2018, Raghni Naidu and her family stopped at a small inn in Provence. While her children wandered among the rows of vines and olive trees, she sat at a shaded table, watching them laugh and play. “I just had this epiphany,” Raghni says. “I want to make this an intentional part of our life because it just brings us so much joy. I’m seeing my children have so much joy in nature.” Back in California a few months later, she began looking for a place of her own. Instead of dreaming of another vacation spot, she wanted a home where wine and family could blend every day. In 2018, she found a ten-acre property in Sonoma County, complete with five acres of Pinot Noir vines, and bought it on a leap of faith. That decision set her on the path to becoming the first female Indian immigrant to found and own a winery in the United States.
Raghni Naidu
From Amritsar to Sonoma: Charting a New Path
Long before she fell in love with the vineyards of Provence, Raghni Naidu’s story began in the bustling city of Amritsar in Punjab, India. Growing up in a place famous for its rich food and culture, Naidu developed an early appreciation for flavor. She often credits her Punjabi upbringing – surrounded by vibrant spices and international influences – for sparking her passion for food and hospitality. At just 18, she ventured out of India to Melbourne, Australia, to pursue her bachelor’s degree in business administration from RMIT University and explore a new world. In Melbourne, known for its eclectic cuisine and nearby wine regions, Naidu’s curiosity about wine began to blossom. She learned about pairing wine with food and savoured trips to Australian vineyards, experiences that planted the seed of a dream.
Launching Naidu Wines Amid Adversity
That dream took clearer shape after she moved once more – this time to Northern California. In 2015, she and her husband settled in the San Francisco Bay Area in search of new opportunities. The pull of California’s wine country was strong. They spent weekends exploring Napa and Sonoma, and she felt the same excitement she’d felt in France. Encouraged, she began to imagine making her life among the vines. In 2018, soon after that trip to Europe, Naidu and her family bought a small 10-acre estate in Sonoma County’s Sebastopol area. Five of those acres were already planted with Pinot Noir vines on a gentle hillside. It was uncommon for a Punjabi immigrant family to buy a vineyard in Sonoma, but Naidu felt it was the right step. “I felt a calling to share my passion for creating memorable experiences for others, as I feel wine has a unique way of doing so, unlike anything else,” she says, describing what drove her to establish Naidu Wines. She followed that calling, moving from Amritsar to Sonoma, and turned her love of wine and hospitality into her an entrepreneurial venture.
Starting a winery is never easy, and Naidu’s timing presented extra hurdles. She officially launched Naidu Wines in mid-2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world – and the wine industry – to a standstill. Tasting rooms were forced to close, travel halted, and wine events were canceled overnight. Instead of hosting a big launch party at her vineyard, Naidu had to get creative, reaching out to consumers directly and pouring samples for small, socially distanced groups when possible. That first year also brought the challenge of devastating wildfires in Northern California’s wine country, which threatened vineyards with smoke damage. In 2020, most of Naidu’s first batch was damaged by smoke, which was a big setback. Still, she kept going, determined to make the next harvest succeed.
As an immigrant woman of colour in a field dominated by white male vintners, Naidu also encountered skepticism and bias. She often found herself the only South Asian woman in the room at industry events. “The main challenge I had, and still have, is that people don’t take me seriously,” Naidu admits. “People would ask questions like ‘What is she doing here?’ or ‘Why is she doing this?’”. Early on, she struggled with a sense of imposter syndrome, wondering if she truly belonged in the storied cellars of Sonoma. Over time, Naidu realised that her outsider status could be a strength. “As someone who does not fit the mold of a traditional vintner, I have to prove a lot more to my potential buyers,” she says. “I am held to a much higher standard of vetting than my counterparts.” Instead of deterring her, this motivated her to work hard. She knew that by succeeding on her own terms, she could challenge stereotypes in the wine business. Her focus from day one was on quality and integrity. “From the get-go, my focus has really been on bringing a quality product,” Naidu says. “There’s a lot of pride involved in this and a responsibility to do it right.” That mindset helped Naidu get through the tough launch. “I adapt super well to whatever is thrown at me. I’m constantly out of my comfort zone,” she says, reflecting on how her immigrant experience prepared her for the uncertainties of start-up life. Her persistence paid off: by 2021, Naidu Wines was starting to get noticed and earn praise.
Wine, Culture, and Brand India
Naidu Wines stands out not just for its wines, but for the stories each bottle tells. Raghni Naidu blends her Indian heritage with California wine culture. In spring, her Sonoma estate hosts a Holi celebration—guests toss colours among the vines while Punjabi music plays. In autumn, she lights up the vineyard for Diwali and shares a simple Indian-style meal. These events aren’t just parties; they’re ways she brings people together around wine and culture.
Holi at Naidu Winery
Naidu also ties her wines to Indian food. She partners with chefs to match her bottles with South Asian dishes. Her crisp Sonoma Viognier pairs beautifully with Indian spices. “The Viognier is very versatile and goes extremely well with Indian spices,” Naidu says, recalling shrimp momos that “delighted her guests”.
Her estate-grown Pinot Noir is equally adaptable—equally at home with Thanksgiving turkey or a slow-cooked Punjabi curry. Naidu often recommends it alongside rich Hyderabadi mutton biryani, bringing California grapes and Indian home-cooking together. By pairing each wine with Indian flavors and stories, she turns every tasting into a nod to her heritage.
Even the name — Naidu Wines — carries personal meaning, honouring her family and its influence on her journey. In an industry that usually leans on French or Italian imagery, her approach is refreshingly personal and unapologetically Indian.
Reviewers and customers have taken notice. Within just a few years, Naidu Wines has won medals at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and the North Coast Wine Challenge. The 2021 Estate Pinot Noir earned a Double Gold and a 93-point score from Wine Enthusiast. Sommeliers at top venues—like the three-Michelin-starred SingleThread in Healdsburg — now pour her limited-production wines.
For a label that launched during a global pandemic, these achievements are remarkable. Each award and restaurant listing carries her vision forward—whether it’s a local diner pairing her rosé with goat cheese or members of the South Asian community raising a glass of her sparkling brut, delighted to see their heritage reflected in the wine world.
Naidu Wines
Claiming Her Space and Inspiring Others
Raghni Naidu’s success in Sonoma goes beyond her own goals—it inspires the wider South Asian community and anyone who feels out of place in a traditional field. In an industry where few vintners share her background, she’s breaking barriers just by being there. “I’m an immigrant and a woman of color, and I’m proudly claiming my space in the industry,” she says. “I want people to look at me and think, she did it, and that means I can do it too.”
Her story has motivated many young South Asians to follow their own paths. “There’s been so much amazing feedback, and people are so inspired by what I’m trying to do here,” Naidu notes. By sharing her journey, she’s not just making wine—she’s showing others that they can succeed in any field, too.
Looking ahead, Naidu isn’t slowing down. After early wins, she’s focused on steady growth. “My goal is to just take it to the next level every year,” she says. “I want the product out to as many people as possible.”
Even as her winery expands, she sticks to what matters most—family, honesty, and hard work. Her small Sonoma estate will keep hosting Holi, Diwali, and other gatherings, welcoming everyone and showing how wine can connect different cultures. In the end, Naidu’s story isn’t just about making wine; it’s about finding your place. From Punjab’s busy streets to Sonoma’s quiet hills, she’s built something all her own and shown a path for others to follow.
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