1111 White Lane, St. Helena, CA

Website: www.vsattui.com

My husband and I sort of stumbled upon this winery. We had never heard the name V. Sattui back home. We had made a reservation for a tour at the new Del Dotto caves across the street but we had an extra hour to spare before the tour started. Looking to make the most out of our time, we decided to try out another winery close by while waiting. When we saw all of the cars in the parking lot to V. Sattui we thought, “This looks like a popular place. Let’s see what it’s all about!”

There are a couple reasons why V. Sattui is a popular stop along Highway 29. It has a large picnic area and a great deli! On top of that, they have a wide selection of wines that includes sparkling wines, Chardonnays, dry whites, fruity whites, rosés, Zinfandels, Cabernet Sauvignons, a variety of other reds, and dessert wines. I would say this is a good stop for a beginner wine drinker because there is so much to choose from, there’s bound to be something to suit everyone’s palate. Plus, the tasting fee is lower than many other wineries in the area. All of the V. Sattui wines are sold exclusively at the winery. My husband and I have made it a tradition to stop here every time we are in Napa Valley to pick up a loaf of French bread and artichoke cheese spread. We take it with us and snack on it in between winery stops. The best part is that the deli opens early so we can stop in on our way to the first tasting of the day and have a snack for later.

Let me give the bigger picture of the appeal of V. Sattui Winery. First of all, the winery owner Dario Sattui has dedicated his life to making the winery a success and carrying on a tradition that his great grandfather Vittorio started in 1885. Vittorio Sattui emigrated from Italy and started St. Helena Wine Cellars in San Francisco. He later changed the name to V. Sattui Wine Company, which became known for its high quality wines sourced from St. Helena grapes. The winery was very successful until Prohibition came along in 1920 and the winery was forced to close its doors. Dario had a dream of re-starting the family winery and did so in 1974 with very little money and much hard work. He worked 12 – 14 hour days, seven days a week, and slept in a sleeping bag on the tasting room floor for several months in the first years that the winery was open. Since he had so little money to start with, he had to do everything by hand because he couldn’t afford the equipment or people to make the wine. His long hours and dedication to making world-class wines has paid off. V. Sattui is proud to boast about the many awards it has won for its wines.

Today, the original stone winery building is covered in vines and houses the European-Style Marketplace with a gourmet market and deli and the newly remodeled tasting room. The Marketplace is almost like a large warehouse with food in one half and wine in the other. The deli provides a selection of 200 cheeses, meats, salads, sandwiches, and prepared foods. They offer free samples of their cheeses.

Outside the original winery is 2 ½ acres of picnic area with shaded tables and chairs for guests purchasing wine or food. During the weekends in the spring, summer, and fall, there is an outdoor barbecue with wood-fired pizzas and a mozzarella bar. For those more interested in the history of the winery or production of the wine, there is a self-guided tour through the new stone winery building, underground aging cellars and small museum. We also encountered the friendly winery cats roaming around the property.

I have recommended this winery to anyone who has asked me where to go in Napa Valley for all of the reasons I have just mentioned. It is easy to get caught up with all of the “big name” wineries in Napa and pay $15 – $20 or more in tasting fees for a sample of 3-4 wines. At V. Sattui, visitors can try out some wines they won’t find at home for a small fee, eat some great food, and relax in the outdoor picnic area. Remember though, this place draws in a crowd and will be busy on a nice, sunny day.