Our Story
Our journey began in 1999, when a hurricane diverted our 10th wedding anniversary trip from Hawaii to San Francisco. On a whim, we drove to Napa Valley for the first time. An afternoon picnic among the vines sparked a love for wine that would grow steadily over the years.
A return trip to Napa years later deepened that connection. Over dinner at a small, family-owned vineyard, we shared a meal with the winemaker and owners, surrounded by breathtaking views. It planted a seed: the idea of one day living among the vines, stewarding a piece of land, and building something beautiful together.
For years, we searched for a way to work side by side, combining our strengths in a shared endeavor. The vision of a vineyard home that could also become a legacy stayed with us. We knew it would take commitment, hard work, and patience. But we embraced the challenge.
Ken & Kristin Reali, Founders & Owners of REALI
In 2021, after exploring wine regions across the U.S. and Europe, we chose to put down roots in the Walla Walla Valley. The region’s collaborative wine community, agricultural soul, and dramatic landscape captured our imagination and hearts. Just north of town, we found a site with sweeping views of the Blue Mountains, rolling wheat fields, and neighboring vineyards—an ideal place to build our home and establish Reali Family Vineyard.
We founded REALI in 2021 and planted our 15-acre estate vineyard in spring 2023, focusing on both classic French varieties and select Italian varieties as a nod to our heritage.
Our Roots
Family has always been at the heart of our story. Ken’s great-grandparents immigrated to the United States from Tuscany in 1907, and his connection to that heritage began early. He remembers watching his grandfather cook, gathering for Sunday dinners with extended family, and admiring the Chianti bottles encased in straw that lined the shelves.
Later in life, Ken began researching his ancestry and traced the Reali family to Calcinaia, a small village in the heart of Tuscany. In recognition of his family’s journey, he obtained Italian citizenship and now serves on the Board of the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF), an organization dedicated to preserving and celebrating Italian heritage in America.
In 2021, we traveled to Calcinaia with our three daughters and Kristin’s father to meet newly discovered relatives. It was a joyful, full-circle moment—one that deepened our sense of family, legacy, and connection to the land we now care for in the Walla Walla Valley.
Utilio Reali, Ken's Great Grandfather
Olive, Helen and Dorothy Reali (Utilio’s daughter’s), Reali’s Restaurant, 1940
