Overview: Passagio Wines has officially ceased operations within the Glen Ellen region of Sonoma County, concluding a twenty-year run. Owner Cindy Cosco confirmed the cessation of production and the closure of the tasting room facility following a steady decline in sales.
The Full Story
Cindy Cosco told The Press Democrat that she decided to close because she did not believe she could endure the winter months. “I just decided that I couldn’t,” Cosco, 65, stated regarding the decision to pull the trigger on the business. The winemaker held a farewell party on Friday, October 9 to bid adieu to the operations before shutting down by the end of the month.
The brand debuted in 2007 with an initial release of 50 cases of its flagship Unoaked Chardonnay. The first tasting room opened in 2014 before relocating to the village of Glen Ellen in 2022. Owner Cindy Cosco first founded Passagio in 2007, and opened the label’s first wine room in 2014. Remaining inventory is being sold off and will be available for purchase online within the next few days.
Production & Profile
The flagship offering remains the Unoaked Chardonnay. The brand launched with a specific production run of 50 cases in 2007. The tasting room history includes the initial opening in 2014 and the subsequent relocation to Glen Ellen in 2022.
Brand & Industry History
Passagio’s closure is part of a wave of other businesses shuttering in struggling Sonoma, such as wine bar Oso Sonoma restaurant and its adjacent Parkside wine bar, which closed in September after 12 years. The U.S. wine industry lost $1.2 billion in revenue in 2025. According to Silicon Valley Bank’s 2026 wine industry report, about half of California wineries are currently operating without a profit. Gundlach Bundschu Winery, California’s oldest continuous family-owned winery, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last month.
What This Means
Cosco said she is considering retiring from the wine industry altogether. “It’s a shame because it’s what we need now,” Cosco said of the slump. “And you’re seeing all these small places close up. It hurts my heart because it’s what it’s supposed to be about: community.” The winemaker held a farewell party on Friday, October 9 to bid adieu to the business.
Consumer Takeaway
Passagio’s remaining inventory will be available to purchase online within the next few days, per their website.
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