Carmella Borgi came to America from Sicily when she was 16. She traveled with a girlfriend, also 16. It took them two weeks.

After settling into life in New Jersey, Carmella ran into a family friend—Charles Amagrande—he'd also traveled to America from Sicily when his father told him to seek a better life here.

The two were married, after Charles delayed the wedding—the grapes ripened early.

Charles would say, wine is like air to Italians, we need it to live.

Charles and Carmella raised eight children in New Jersey. When eldest son Joe was in the service, he told 'pop' about climate that never saw frost.

Charles moved everyone to California. Just outside Pasadena. Five of their eight children are still in the general area, along with many other relatives. Four of their children have joined Carmella and Charles in the Holy garden, including a baby girl who died as an infant.

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