A Sip of Culture: Fine Wine, Venetian Art, and Opera Music at Del Dotto Winery

Venetian Style Architecture Featured at Del Dotto Estate Winery & Caves in Napa Valley, CA

If you drive down Highway 29 in Napa Valley it is hard to miss the imposing stone and iron gates of Del Dotto Estate Winery, with the massive pottery amphorae flanking each side. But if you decide to turn in, there is an even more breathtaking structure at the end of the driveway – a Venetian-style palace that has been built into the hillside, complete with wine caves.

“When we researched our family history and discovered that it is Venetian and dates back to 1150, we decided to design a winery that honors our heritage,” stated Dave Del Dotto, co-owner and founder, during my recent visit to the estate.

Dave, a retired real estate and infomercial tycoon, and his wife, Yolanda, invited stone masons from Italy to construct the 16,000 square foot palace, complete with a marble exterior, fountains, statues, olive trees, and vineyards. Inside visitors are awestruck by the domed ceiling with massive chandeliers made with Murano glass, soaring arches, marble pillars, stone mosaics, and exquisite Venetian art. And echoing through the sound system is thrilling opera music.

“My Dad loves opera music, as you may guess,” said Desirée Del Dotto, Chief Operations Officer and Marketing Director for the winery, as well as the three other wineries the family owns (Piazza Del Dotto Winery & Caves, Villa del Lago, and the original Del Dotto Historic Winery on Silverado Trail).

After several years of construction, Del Dotto Estate Winery & Caves opened its doors in 2007, and quickly became a showcase winery in Napa Valley, as well as a favorite place for the Kardashians to visit.

“We have welcomed and filmed with the Kardashians here on three different occasions, and it was an honor that Kylie Jenner selected us as her first winery to visit when she turned 21,” reported Desirée.

Italian Art, Mosaics, & Murano Chandeliers Featured at Del Dotto Estate Winery

Perhaps part of the reason that celebrities and thousands of other visitors are attracted to Del Dotto Estate Winery is the unique wine tasting experience they offer.

“We believe in allowing guests to taste not only the different grape varietals and appellations of Napa Valley, but also to experience the impact of different types of oak aging on wine,” explained Desirée as she and Dave escorted me into the ‘sacred caves.’

Oak wine barrels lined both sides of the very long cave, with intricately tiled floors and walls, and more massive chandeliers. Desirée used a wine thief to deftly extract red wine from a barrel, and poured it gracefully into our waiting wine glasses.

“This is cabernet sauvignon from Napa Valley’s St. Helena AVA and is aged in French oak,” she explained. “Next we will try the same wine in American oak.” The difference is quite astounding, with the French oak providing delicate notes of honey and allspice, while the American oak enhanced the wine with broader swaths of crème brule, mocha and vanilla.

“We ask visitors which they prefer, and encourage them to ask questions, rather than lecturing to them about the wine,” explained Dave.

Desirée said that many visitors ask her what her favorite wine is and she responds that her opinion doesn’t matter. “Wine is like art, and you like what you like. It doesn’t matter what I or someone else like.”

Not to be outdone, Dave chimed in. “Wine is like liquid art. It is like going to the Louvre, and if you were able to take down a painting or a statue and drink it – that would be the art.”

Altogether the Del Dotto’s make approximately 30 different variations and vintages of Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon in very small lots, with visitors allowed to taste directly from 5 to 8 barrels, as well as assorted bottled wine. Guests then select the barrels they prefer and the Del Dotto’s will bottle and ship the wine to them.

“Our biggest challenge is that we sell out of our wines very quickly with this tasting method,” admitted Desirée.

Desiree Del Dotto, COO of Del Dotto Winery, Pouring Wine from Barrel for Visitors

Over the years the Del Dotto’s have managed to receive many high-scores from wine critics, especially Robert Parker, who awarded them three 100-point scores. One of these was for their 2012 vintage of ‘The Beast,’ which is a special red blend made from select vineyard rows.

“We named it ‘The Beast’ because the first time a good friend tasted it, he called it a ‘beast of a wine,’’ explained Dave.

The wine, sold in a special ‘caged box,’ is made in very limited quantities and typically sells out to wine club members almost instantly at the current price of $295 per bottle. It’s a substantial red blend with rich, concentrated flavors of cassis, black plum, graphite, cocoa, and espresso beans, accompanied by a long, complex finish.

Dave mentioned that ‘The Beast’ is often resold on the secondary market in Asia to collectors, who have paid up to $1000 per bottle for it, “and have sent me videos of how they have taste-offs comparing it to Chateau LaTour.”

‘Sacred Caves’ at Del Dotto Estate Winery in Napa Valley

However, Del Dotto Estate Winery doesn’t only focus on cabernet sauvignon, as they own a hilltop vineyard in the Sonoma Coast where they produce high-end pinot noir and chardonnay. They also make sauvignon blanc, syrah, cabernet franc, merlot, sangiovese, and several delightful sparkling wines. Altogether, they own 108 vineyard acres and produce around 20,000 cases of wine per year, which they primarily sell directly to consumers.

Visitors to the estate can make an advance reservation for a Bar Tasting for $75 per person or Cave Experience and Barrel Tasting for $120 per person. A good plan is to schedule a morning tasting at Del Dotto Estate Winery and then drive a few minutes down Highway 29 to visit their second winery, Piazza Del Dotto Winery & Caves. Here you can enjoy an oven-baked pizza on the terrace overlooking the organic garden. This winery features an even larger cave network dug back into the hillside, and an Italian inspired barn with turkeys, chickens and peacocks.

The Del Dotto Wine Family – Giovanni, Desiree, Yolanda and Dave Del Dotto (left to right)

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About the Author: Chris Lehoux

Meet Chris Lehoux, an experienced wine connoisseur and dedicated blogger with a deep passion for all things wine-related. With years of expertise in the industry, Chris shares insightful wine reviews, valuable wine tasting tips, expert pairing advice, and captivating tales of vineyard visits. Join Chris on a journey through the world of wine, where every sip is an adventure waiting to be savored!