- Founded by two career biotech veterans who had perfected grape cultivation and were ready to further diversify their organic farm
- The climate in Sonoma County is ideal for grapes and also for cannabis
- Produces premium quality cannabis at a fraction of the cost of its competitors
Sonoma Biologics, an ultra-premium cannabis grower located in California wine country, was founded by Paul Caracciolo and his wife, Margaret, both out of the biotech industry. They founded Mill Station Vineyards in Sonoma, planning to perfect their winemaking craft, and establish an organic farm, according to an article in USA Today (
https://ibn.fm/3Ysr7). With 8.5 acres of ultra-premium Pinot Noir grapes, they began to gain a reputation and world-class winemakers started buying their grapes. Their grapes can be found in some of the most coveted Pinot Noirs in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma county.
Having worked in the biotech industry and seeing the world through the lens of science, they viewed Sonoma as a laboratory. This influenced everything they did and helped them develop standard protocols for cultivation that were precisely calibrated to create the high-quality grapes they now grow. The climate in Sonoma County is ideal for grapes and also, as it turned out, for cannabis as well.
In 2016 California approved the 2016 voter initiative to legalize cannabis. Paul and Margaret knew they were well-positioned to diversify and enter one of the fastest-growing industries in the region.
When they decided to move into cultivating cannabis, the two applied the same basic principles they used in the growing of grapes. Just as other winemakers came to them for their grapes, Cannabis start-ups reached out to them for varietal knowledge in Sonoma county, as the Caracciolos had already tested and piloted tens of varietals in their first year for climate suitability.
“There are a lot of analogies when it comes to irrigating and scaling these two farming products,” said Caracciolo. “Having grown grapes on the scale we had been, really gave us a head start in the cannabis business. All other factors being equal, it can’t be overstated that being enthusiastic and passionate about your products isn’t enough. It really helps to know and understand the science to take your product to the next level.”
Sonoma Biologics adheres to the strictest standards required by both the California Department of Agriculture and the Sonoma county agricultural standards and regulations. The Company has successfully passed California’s laboratory purity testing for the past three years. By using exclusively organic methods to grow and taking advantage of the suitable Sonoma county climate, the Company produces premium quality crops at a fraction of the cost of its competitors.
Sonoma Biologics has acquired land in Sonoma County and Mendocino County, with additional expansion targeted for Lake County. The goal is to become one of the largest organic-equivalent, environmentally friendly suppliers in northern California through acquisitions, joint ventures, and revenue-sharing cultivation opportunities. With years of experience in large-scale commercial farming, including 100 acres of hemp grown in 2019, the team at Sonoma Biologics is well-positioned to expand rapidly towards a vertically integrated operation.
For more information, visit the company’s website at
www.OwnSonomaBiologics.com.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Sonoma are available in the company’s newsroom at
https://ibn.fm/Sonoma
