Thomas

Review of V. Sattui Winery

After a year-long job assignment in Irvine, CA bac...

After a year-long job assignment in Irvine, CA back in 1985, my wife and I spent three weeks traveling by car north through San Francisco and spent several days in Napa and Sonoma. We visited about a dozen vineyards in both regions. Many had wine tastings and tours, but we rated the V. Sattui vineyard our favorite. V. Sattui dates back to 1885 and, although the current winery was built in the 1980 s, it has a look that could date back a century. V. Sattui is also a perfect venue for weddings and if your timing is right, you can witness a truly lovely event. We were fortunate to see one beautiful wedding from our four trips to Napa.

V. Sattui produces an excellent selection of red and white varietals. We both enjoy the sweeter whites including their Gewurztraminer, Muscat, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc. The Johannisburg Off-Dry (1998) was an early favorite. Our favorite reds are Gamay Rouge, Merlot, and the White Zinfandel. We purchased a few bottles of each on our first visit in 1985, then began ordering cases by fax and later online every few years since. With interstate wine shipping restrictions, it s been challenging ordering wine from CA and shipping it to OH.

We ve been back three times since our first visit and always enjoy a picnic-style lunch from their deli. Their cheese and bread selections are also superb. We were not too surprised or disappointed when the various tasting charges began. This is a business providing a service to wine lovers, and it s excellent wine too. Any winery offering free tastings either isn t established yet or doesn t have a good vintage. Depending on weather, time of day, and day of the week, it can get quite crowded with guests and a bit frustrating if you re there for a tasting without a reservation. Afternoons are the busiest. Our earlier two tastings were less formal and more enjoyable events where the sommeliers and guests had more time for interaction. The past several years have become more formal, much busier, with little time to interact. This is not deliberate, but a product of overcrowding from its popularity and success. If you re from the east coast and haven t yet adjusted to the PST time zone, arrive for tasting at 9:00 AM which is noon back east. The staff is overly friendly and helpful.

We were never big wine drinkers before we toured Napa and Sonoma. But after our first visit to V. Sattui, we began educating ourselves on wines, subscribing to wine magazines such as Wine Spectator and attended the Cincinnati International Wine Festival. We began collecting unique wine glasses during our travels and hold annual wine parties for our friends. This is all attributed to V. Sattui Winery, so we thank you! We strongly recommend visiting V. Sattui Winery for anyone traveling through Napa.