Published on 23-06-2022
V. Sattui Winery – The American Dream
From Generation to Generation
Between 1880 and 1924 more than four million Italians immigrated to the United States to begin a new life. Among those were Vittorio Sattui and his wife, settling in San Francisco in 1882. In 1885 Vittorio started making wine, and his fledgling company was then known as St. Helena Cellars. The winery would flourish for thirty-five years, until Prohibition forced the company to close its doors. Then, fifty-six years later, in 1976, Dario Sattui, Vittorio’s great-grandson, would open V. Sattui Winery in Napa, California, as an homage to Vittorio. V. Sattui Winery has been a Napa mainstay ever since, welcoming visitors with Italian hospitality and wine. Even COVID-19 would not stop this generational Napa icon from making visitors feel at home and welcome (even if virtually for a while), drinking good wines, eating mouthwatering food, and offering a relaxing, convivial retreat, even an escape, from the world’s stress and unknowns.
The V. Sattui Experience-pre and post Covid
Following my first visit to V. Sattui winery sometime in the ’80s, the winery became a must stop destination for my wife and I. Back then, we would stand at the bar drinking (it wasn’t “tasting” for us at that point), and then, always followed by having a picnic lunch with meats and cheeses from the Italian deli. The tastings protocol may have changed over the last few years, but the hospitality, fine food and wine keeps getting better.
Gone are the party busses, the bellying up to the bar standing shoulder to shoulder tastings. Covid compelled business everywhere to re-define their operating models, wineries were no exception. For a while the winery was closed, therefore virtual events and tastings via Zoom became the standard. As wineries re-opened, consumers were greeted with new, more personalized, and individualized, elevated, and hosted tasting experiences. There were less crowds, with the same warm, welcoming Sattui family graciousness.
You have several options for wine tastings, indoors or outdoors to choose from (and during this time of year, outdoors especially such an idyllic, countryside setting, under the trees):
Premier Wine Tasting. Enjoy a selection of Sattui’s award winning premier and estate single vineyard wines. For a small additional charge, add-on two library Cabernet Sauvignons.
Bubbles! For bubble lovers, tickle your senses with a selection of V. Sattui sparkling wines, (Friday-Sunday only).
Reserve Tower & Bacon Tasting: YUMMY is the word here! Enjoy a selection of Sattui’s single-vineyard reserve wines, along with their house-made, candy-spiced bacon!
Upgrade any of these tasting experiences by adding a selection of house-made artisan chocolate truffles! What could be better?
But that’s not all!
The V. Sattui Deli: NOT to be missed. Period! Enjoy a pre-or post-tasting snack or picnic lunch with delicacies from this artisan deli, then find a picnic table and enjoy! There are dozens of house-made foods, including charcuterie, chocolate truffles, and desserts. Choose from a mouthwatering assortment of cheeses (more than 200), salads, meats, sandwiches, panini, fresh fruit, and other fresh specialty items. Then, take a few minutes to shop for unique Italian kitchen and decorative items. The V. Sattui deli will re define your understanding of a true Italian Deli!
Recent awards and honors
San Diego International Wine Competition:
• Best Domestic Winery of the Year (2022)
• Best Zinfandel (2019 Pilgrim Vineyard Zinfandel)
• Best of Show Fortified Wine (20-year-old Port)
• 2017 Blanc de Noir (Wine Enthusiast-92 points)
Since the superb 2018 vintage, virtually all of V. Sattui’s single-vineyard Cabernets were awarded scores of 92+ from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, James Suckling and Jeb Dunnuck.
Weekend BBQ & V. Sattui Food Truck
Follow your nose to our Saturday V. Sattui Food Truck, extending our delicious offerings to include grilled seasonal entrees, salads, pizzas, and truffle parmesan fries. A plethora of fresh-baked cookies, cannoli, and Tiramisu also available to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Weekends 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
(weather permitting).
NOTE: V. Sattui wines are not distributed, they are available only through club membership and directly from the winery.
Don Sonderling is a freelance writer covering California’s Wine Country lifestyle and culture, from the Central Coast up through the Napa Valley and Sonoma. He may be reached at: donsonderling@gmail.com.
V. Sattui knows how to put on a party! Reserve for the upcoming July event now, and mark your calendar for some of the others so you don’t miss out:
• July 30th – Festa Italiana – A celebration of the Italian Heritage. Food, fun, music, dancing and of course: WINE
• September – Harvest Ball – A weekend of activities, culminating in an elegant Italian Family Style Banquet-with all the merriment!
• April of 2023 – Lobster Fest – Make your reservations as soon as able for V. Sattui’ s Lobster Fest! The biggest event of its type on the West Coast.
This is a members-only event. Not a member? Join now!