History

As a young boy living in San Francisco, Bob Frugoli spent entire summers with his Italian grandparents in Healdsburg, where he relished his grandmother Armida’s opulent meals with older family and friends while sipping his grandfather’s homemade wine. These rich, loving memories nurtured Bob’s successful business career in San Francisco and Chicago, as he concurrently developed and farmed vineyards in the Russian River Valley. Planning to someday own and operate his own winery, he kept an eye out for the right winery property. In 1989 he purchased an existing but non-operating winery near Healdsburg, in the heart of Sonoma County. He spent one year renovating the buildings and equipment. In the fall of 1990, Armida Winery's first crush occurred. After a four year labor of love, Bob decided to enjoy some serious retirement time. In 1994, Bob sold majority interest in Armida Winery to brothers Steve and Bruce Cousins. He now enjoys the fruits of his labor as his new partners continue to develop Armida Winery to its fullest potential.

Co-owner with his brother Steve, Bruce hails from an entrepreneurial background and brings to Armida his experience in owning and managing small, family-owned businesses. Having owned and operated his own business in San Jose, Bruce moved to Healdsburg in 1994 to take on the general manager position at Armida, overseeing daily operations at the winery. Using his considerable talents in sales and public relations, Bruce focuses on the promotion of retail sales through the tasting room, as well as maintaining grower relations and procuring fruit from some of the top growers in the county. Bruce is also busy playing beach bum as he gets our new tasting room off the ground in Capitola, just southeast of Santa Cruz. He also manages Armida's estate Zinfandel vineyards, with our first harvest expected in the year 2004.

Armida Winery takes pride in upholding the standards of excellence and traditions of family and fine wine inspired by Bob Frugoli and his grandmother Armida. Enjoy Armida wines, and drink deeply from the cup of life.