DEL DOTTO VINEYARDS, INC.
ST. HELENA, CA

With a family name rooted in winemaking since the 1400s, wine was in Dave’s veins. He started collecting bottles in the late ‘80s. In 1988, he was on a wine-buying trip in Napa Valley with his wife Yolanda when they stumbled upon a beautiful 1912 Frank Lloyd Wright craftsman house located in the desirable Rutherford appellation. Dave had a palate for fine wines and a love for real estate, and he knew the Rutherford property had the potential to produce some remarkable grapes. He and Yolanda purchased the 17-acre property on the spot after falling in love with the view. Shortly after, our family moved from Kona, Hawaii, and in 1990, continued the 800-year old Del Dotto legacy by planting new rootstock of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot and sangiovese. In 1999, we opened our first tasting room Historic Del Dotto Winery & Cave, fearturing a hand-dug cave dating back to 1885. By 2005, we had 90 acres of vineyards to the Del Dotto name and Dave brought Robbie Meyer on board as a consulting winemaker to oversee production of pinot noir and chardonnay from the Cinghiale Vineyard in Sonoma. Having just purchased the vineyard and discovering it had received a 97-point rating from A year later, Gerard Zanzonico was hired as our first full-time winemaker having spent nearly three decades making wine for notable Napa Valley labels including Chateau Montelena, Stonegate and Staglin. He had made a name for himself by trying new approaches to winemaking and was eager to manifest Dave’s vision. With the help of Gerard, Dave began the most extensive barrel program in the world, using more than 50 different barrel types from a multitude of cooperages from around the world, including those in France, USA, Russia, Hungary and Italy. Always the trailblazer, Dave ventured so far as to develop innovative barrels such as the carved and grooved barrels and the MOFO Barrel, which consists of equal parts Missouri Oak and French Oak. The concept had never been executed before and has become one of our most desired barrel types. In fact, Del Dotto was also the first winery to bottle wines directly out of individual barrels, providing our visitors with a unique tasting experience highlighting the varied flavor nuances oak can provide to a premium wine. It was always Dave and Yolanda’s dream to have a winery on the Rutherford property. Dave envisioned a grand Venetian palace in homage to the Del Dotto family’s heritage dating back to 1150 Venice. Nineteen years after purchasing the property, we opened the Del Dotto Venetian Estate to the public in 2007. This winery in particular embodies Dave’s philosophy that wine tasting should be a full sensory experience. And thus, our family launched a robust culinary program at the Venetian Estate, led by Chef Joshua Schwartz, formerly of Michelin-starred restaurants such as The French Laundry, Per Se, Bouchon and Bouley. With the help of Chef Tony Incontro, we have also adopted a robust salumi program at the Venetian Estate, offering house-cured salumis made using traditional Italian techniques and artisanal practices. Although still a small family-run winery, we produce about 20,000 cases annually for the sole purpose of making great wine to bring family and friends together for the enjoyment of life. With a family name rooted in winemaking since the 1400s, wine was in Dave’s veins. He started collecting bottles in the late ‘80s. In 1988, he was on a wine-buying trip in Napa Valley with his wife Yolanda when they stumbled upon a beautiful 1912 Frank Lloyd Wright craftsman house located in the desirable Rutherford appellation. Dave had a palate for fine wines and a love for real estate, and he knew the Rutherford property had the potential to produce some remarkable grapes. He and Yolanda purchased the 17-acre property on the spot after falling in love with the view. Shortly after, our family moved from Kona, Hawaii, and in 1990, continued the 800-year old Del Dotto legacy by planting new rootstock of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot and sangiovese. Dave and Yolanda Del Dotto, along with their two children, Desiree and Giovanni, live and work in Napa Valley, overseeing the operations of their three wineries: Historic Del Dotto, Del Dotto Estate and Piazza Del Dotto. The family’s impact is noticeable across all aspects of the business—from the vineyards to the tasting rooms and caves—the wine, the food pairings, the architecture, ambiance and décor are all influenced by the family’s desire to offer every guest the best winery experience in Napa Valley.