Del Dotto Vineyards in St. Helena, Napa Valley

Family owned and operated for 30 years, Del Dotto transports visitors in the Napa Valley to Italy with its two strikingly beautiful properties that are architectural treasures. The Del Dotto Estate in St. Helena (above photo) is a Venetian inspired palace, and just down Highway 29 the sunny-hued Piazza Del Dotto is reminiscent of a Tuscan villa, featuring pizza pairings and other bites.

Best known for their unique cave barrel tastings and practice of selling wine before it is bottled as futures, Del Dotto offers visitors a one-of-a-kind experience. We interview COO and Second Generation Vintner Desirée Del Dotto to learn more.

What type of wine do you specialize in?  

COO and Second Generation Vintner Desirée Del Dotto: We are known to be Cabernet Sauvignon focused for sure, focusing on small production, silky smooth wines from our carefully selected estate vineyards throughout the Napa Valley. But, we love ALL wine and also make some excellent Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays from our Sonoma Coast, Ft. Ross Seaview vineyard Cinghiale. We own 87 acres of planted vineyards throughout Sonoma Coast & Napa Valley.

Share a popular tasting experience.

Vintner Desirée Del Dotto: Our signature Cave and Barrel tasting experience is what has put us on the map in Napa Valley.  We bring small groups of wine loving guests through our cave locations and “thieve” the wines straight from the barrel.  We highlight the nuances of the different oaks and in most cases allow our guests to taste the same wine aged in a French oak barrel compared to an American oak barrel.  

Once we opened our Piazza Del Dotto location in Napa on Highway 29 just north of Yountville, we started offering our Delicacies Wine & Food pairings which include the Cave and Barrel tasting first and then our guests are seated to enjoy a pairing of bottled wines and four delicious small plates. 

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned in the winemaking process?

Vintner Desirée Del Dotto: I am not a winemaker but what I have learned is the most important part of making world class wine is the land.  The terroir or the land is where the quality comes from.  Next, I would say that wine is made in the vineyard.  Which means it is important to pay attention to the vineyards and farming practices when the vines are growing.

What makes your wine unique?

Vintner Desirée Del Dotto: We are best known for our unique cave barrel tastings and practice of bottling wines directly out of individual barrels, offering visitors a special cellar tasting and purchase opportunity.

What’s one thing you wish more people knew about your winery?

Vintner Desirée Del Dotto: We are family owned and operated and have been for 30 years, there aren’t many of us left! We love quality wines and wish to provide an experience like no other for our guests.

Share the full story of your winery.

Vintner Desirée Del Dotto: My Dad’s background is in marketing, not in wine. He came into the business as a wine collector and consumer, which I believe gave us a different perspective on how we evolved.  I was lucky enough to be along for the ride and grew up drinking the world’s finest wines, learning firsthand about them by tasting them. I don’t believe the intention was to get full fledged into the wine business. It mainly started as my Dad’s passion for wine and something to do as a “retirement” business.  After moving my grandparents to Napa Valley from Hawaii my Dad started taking family and friends into the cellars and dipping into the barrels.  

He soon realized that the barrel made a big impact on the flavors in the wines which resulted in us opening our historic cave location in 1997 where we allowed visitors to come and experience barrel tastings. That is where we started offering “futures” on the wines, the ability to purchase wine straight out of the barrels to our customers. 

Fast forward and the 2022 vintage celebrated our 30th vintage making wines.  We have since built and opened two Italian inspired, over the top tasting room locations. We opened our original property, Del Dotto Estate Cave in 2007 in St. Helena. It is a Venetian inspired wine palace, built in homage to our family’s heritage dating back to 1150 in Venice. Graced with imported Murano glass chandeliers and marble columns hand-cut in Italy from Carrera marble, no detail has been spared.

In 2017, just down Highway 29, we opened our Tuscan style winery, Piazza Del Dotto in Napa which represented our family moving from Venice to Tuscany to a little town called Lucca.  It gives Tuscan villa vibes that feature festive pizza pairings and breathtaking gardens and gorgeous Napa Valley views.

Describe your winemaking approach.  

Vintner Desirée Del Dotto: I would say our philosophy is to make silky, soft approachable wines. I think the day of making heavily tannic wines that you can’t drink and need to cellar for 20+ years are of the past.  

What do you love about the wine industry?

Vintner Desirée Del Dotto: Wine is a beverage that brings family and friends together and we believe should be part of your every day. I love being involved in high quality wines is the amazing people I get to meet. When you are making world class wines and providing an experience it is interesting who seeks you out. I have been lucky to meet so many amazing wine loving people over the years. Since our entire business model has been word of mouth, word has spread and we get tons of referrals from people all over the United States that love fine wine.

Another thing I love about wine is that it isn’t boring. My Dad refers to wine as “liquid art” which is very true. Every year is different because of the weather and many other factors that go into what consumers get to enjoy as the final product.  For me that makes it fun and keeps life from getting too monotonous. 

Anything you’d like to add? 

Vintner Desirée Del Dotto: I would just say that the wine industry is a tough one but there are so many pluses about it. I have made lifelong friends with our clients and supporters over the last 30 years. I also love the idea that the wines we produce and put so much time and effort into producing are being shared daily around the world by all our wine loving fans. It is an honor to have what we do as part of so many people’s lives and celebrations. The goal for me is to continue to focus on making the BEST wines we can so this will continue.