Villa Antonio Winery began as the passion project of the Polesel family, who bought the land where the winery now sits in 1989. Antonio immigrated to St. Louis from Italy in 1951 and Fernanda in 1953. Bringing a love of Italian wines, Antonio Polesel began planting grapes, and in 2000, the winery opened to the public.
Fernanda "Nanda" Polesel poured her deep knowledge of Italian cooking into our kitchen, affectionately known as Nanda's Kitchen, where we continue to serve wood-fired pizzas and other from-scratch favorites with the freshest local ingredients. In 2019, Sandy Valley Brewery was launched.
Our Team
Antonio "Tony" Polesel-Founder: In Loving Memory* Tony grew up in a small village just north of Venice, where he first learned the craft of winemaking. He came to St. Louis in the early 1950s, and in 1989 his family bought the land in Hillsboro where he planted the first vines. In 2000, he opened Villa Antonio to the public and took great pride in the place he built and the people it brought together. We lost Tony in 2019 and miss him deeply every day. His family carries on his work, and every glass poured at Villa Antonio is part of his legacy.
Thomas Polesel **Owner and President** Thomas Polesel is the owner and president of Villa Antonio Winery in Hillsboro, Missouri. The son of founder Antonio Polesel, he carries forward the family's Italian winemaking traditions.
Fernanda Polesel **Founder and Culinary Director** Fernanda "Nanda" Polesel is the founder and culinary director of Villa Antonio Winery. A native of Istria who immigrated to St. Louis in 1953, she brought her deep knowledge of Italian cooking to Nanda's Kitchen, where the winery serves wood-fired pizzas and from-scratch favorites.
Richelle Doublin **Director of Catering & Events** Richelle Doublin is the director of catering and events at Villa Antonio Winery. She works with couples and guests to plan weddings and private events at the winery.
Kylie Mercer **Head Event Coordinator** Kylie Mercer is the head event coordinator at Villa Antonio Winery. She coordinates the winery's events from planning through the day itself.
GET IN TOUCH
Have a Question?
Send us a message and we’ll help you plan your visit.
