#salute #deldotto #deldottowines #bubbles #brutcuvee #napavalley #venetianestate
And into the Venetian caves…
This Wine is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, and 25% Merlot 
@deldottowines #VenetianEstate #deldottocaves #deldotto #sthelena #venetiancaves #barreltasting #visitnapavalley
Del Dotto has an incredible salumi program led by Paul Scandura. In the back if the Venetian Cave, there are two rooms dedicated to curing salumi.
Salumi room.
Salami room.
With Paul Scandura, Head of Del Dotto’s Salumi Program.
Paul and the Del Dotto Team surprised us with a selection of cheeses and salumi!
These mortadella ham cotto smoked gouda panini’s were delizioso!
Del Dotto houses a Pizzaiolo that makes these delicious and mouthwatering pizzas all day long!
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Visit Del Dotto’s Venetian Estate and feel like you’ve escaped to Venice, Italy! The Venetian estate is grandiose and opulent featuring crystal chandeliers, mosaic marble floors, and gold-inlaid ceilings. The attention to detail is “squisito” (exquisite in Italian)!
Our guide, Ed started us out with some Bubbles, an elegant cuvee of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Del Dotto’s Cinghiale Vineyard on the Sonoma Coast. It’s lively and fruity with hints of delicious fuji apple.
Next, we explored the Venetian cave and tasted Sangiovese wine right out of the barrel! Sangiovese, the defining grape of Italy is thickly skinned on the outside but delicate inside. It’s a wine you must try at Del Dotto!
Ed invited us into the VIP area, the Del Dotto Private Reserve Room. I tried “The David” right out of the barrel and it was incredible! The David is 50% cabernet sauvignon, 25% cabernet franc, and 25% merlot.
Next, Paul Scandura, Head of Del Dotto’s robust salumi program gave us a tour of the salumi rooms located in the back of the Venetian cave. Del Dotto’s house-cured salumis are made using traditional Italian techniques and artisanal practices. Their collection of salumi is quite impressive!
At the end of our experience, Paul surprised us with an incredible set up that included an array of salumi, cheeses, mortadella ham cotto smoked gouda paninis, and a margherita pizza. Del Dotto houses a Pizzaiolo that makes mouthwatering pizzas that are “molt bene” (very good in Italian) all day long!
Visiting Napa Valley soon? Make sure to check out Del Dotto’s Venetian Estate in addition to their other locations – Napa Historic and Piazza Del Dotto. The Napa Historic location offers Cave Experiences and Barrel Tastings and Piazza Del Dotto focuses on Food & Wine Pairings. Piazza’s culinary program is top-notch and is lead by renowned Chef, Jason Schwartz who previously worked at the Michelin Star restaurants, The French Laundry, Per Se, Bouchon, and Bouley.
Photography by Mario Piombo
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Thank you, Del Dotto for the warm welcome!!
Since my tour & tasting was at 10am, my amazing tour guide, Todd started us out with a little breakfast wine, Piazza Del Dotto’s Sparkling Rosé. It’s magnificent and I could drink this rosé all day!
How gorgeous is this bottle?! Designed by Dave Del Dotto’s daughter, Desiree.
Barrels on barrels of delicious wine!
This is the first wine I tried right out of the barrel!
Nothing better than tasting Del Dotto wines right out of the barrel!
See, swirl, sniff, taste!
And into the caves…
Trying some 2016 Cabernet Franc right out of the barrel. Deliciozo!!
Atlas, the adorable cellar cat.
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Drinking fine wine out of the barrel in one of Napa Valley’s oldest caves is an experience I will never forget! Del Dotto offers an amazing Cave Experience and Barrel Tasting that educates wine lovers about the effects barrels have on the flavor of wine. The winery first introduced their renowned barrel tastings in 1999. Del Dotto is a family-owned winery that focuses on small production, premium wines.
Del Dotto’s Founder, Dave Del Dotto is an innovator and interestingly enough developed barrels such as the carved and grooved barrels and the MOFO Barrel, which consists of equal parts Missouri Oak and French Oak.
My tour guide at the Historic Napa location, Todd, was very knowledgeable and had a nice southern gentleman charm. Since my wine tasting started at 10am, we started out with a nice breakfast wine, Del Dotto’s 2016 Rosé Sparkling Wine. It is produced from Del Dotto’s Pinot Noir vineyard on the Sonoma Coast and shows nuances of delicate stone fruits, strawberry, and crisp, red delicious apple. Very delizioso…I could drink that sparkling rosé all day!!
Next, we moved along to the barrel room to taste some Pinot Noir. Todd educated me about the barrel as well as the region the Pinot Noir grapes were grown – the Fort Ross-Seaview area on the Sonoma Coast. Pinot Noir is a variety that prefers cool climates and in California, the viticultural areas don’t get much cooler than the Fort Rose-Seaview AVA (American Viticultural Area).
Walking down the aisle of the Cave au Vin (cave of wine in French) was pretty spectacular! It was rustic, dimly lit, and smelled of oak aged wine. In the cave, I sampled the 2016 Cabernet Franc. Cabernet Franc is a medium-bodied red wine that is made from blue-black grapes. It’s loved for its savory, bell pepper-like flavors. It was my first time trying Cabernet Franc and I was pleasantly surprised!
Visiting Napa Valley soon? Make sure to check out Del Dotto’s Historic Napa location in addition to their other locations – Piazza Del Dotto and the Venetian Estate. The Venetian Estate also offers Cave Experiences and Barrel Tastings. Piazza Del Dotto focuses on Food & Wine Pairings and it’s culinary program is led by the renowned Chef, Jason Schwartz who previously worked at renowned restaurants including The French Laundry, Per Se, Bouchon, and Bouley.
Photography by Mario Piombo
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Gorgeous ceiling of La Barchessa!
Stunning courtyard!
The phenomenal Delicacies Food & Wine Pairing menu.
Starting off with my favorite, Piazza Sparkling Rosé.
Israeli Golden Osetra Caviar, Local Herring, Sour Cream and Dill, Del Ritz Crackers. Paired with 2016 Sauvignon Blanc Sonoma Coast “Cinghiale” Vineyard.
Maine Lobster Roll on Toasted Brioche. Paired with 2015 Piazza Chardonnay Sonoma Coast “Cinghiale” Vineyard.
Bellwether Farms Ricotta Tortellini with Pork Sugo alla Nonna, Garden Brassicas, Garlic and Parmesan Crumble. Paired with 2012 Piazza Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast “Cinghiale” Vineyard.
Snake River Farms American Wagyu Beef Piccoburger with Perigord Black Truffle. Paired with 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon American Oak Napa Valley.
Fico Linzer Torte with Warm Spice Gelato and Port Soaked Kadota Figs. Paired with Dolores Red Dessert Wine.
With Brendan Byer, Sous Chef at Piazza Del Dotto.
Beautiful gardens!
It’s mustard season in Napa Valley!
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If you enjoy the finer things in life such as caviar, wagyu beef burgers, and lobster rolls…The Delicacies Food & Wine Pairing at Piazza Del Dotto is calling your name!
The Del Dotto family’s newest location, Piazza Del Dotto focuses on food & wine pairings and offers a couple of different tastings including Poppers and the Bar Tasting. It embodies Dave Del Dotto’s philosophy that wine should be a complete sensory experience.
Pulling up to Piazza Del Dotto, I felt like I had escaped to the Italian Countryside. It’s Italian-inspired “barchessa” or barn, is surrounded by 8.5 acres of cabernet sauvignon, al fresco tasting cabanas, vegetable gardens, 17th century fountains, and an outdoor barn with turkeys, peacocks, pheasants and doves.
Our host, Michael was very knowledgable, personable and provided exceptional service. We started off our experience with the Piazza Del Dotto Sparkling Rosé. This rosé is easy to love as it’s served in a stunning bottle designed by Desiree Del Dotto and includes hints of strawberry and crisp, red delicious apple.
Piazza Del Dotto’s Food & Wine Pairing program is led by the renowned Chef, Jason Schwartz who previously worked at Michelin Star restaurants including The French Laundry, Per Se, Bouchon, and Bouley. Piazza’s talented Sous Chef, Brendan Byer stopped by our table and I asked him questions about the program and his amazing team of chefs. Video interview with Brendan coming soon!
Every course that we had was incredible and I have to say – I have never experienced a better food & wine pairing like Piazza Del Dotto’s! The lobster roll was my favorite course and I could have eaten a large platter of them! Our host, Michael mentioned that their lobster is brought in from Maine every week…you can taste the freshness! Served on a butter brioche bun..it’s perfection! The lobster roll was served with the 2015 Piazza Chardonnay from the Sonoma Coast “Cinghiale” Vineyard. With hints of pineapple and banana cream pie…it’s too good! Light & refreshing, it complimented the lobster roll perfectly!
Visiting Napa Valley soon? Make sure to check out Piazza Del Dotto in addition to their other locations – Historic Napa and Venetian Estate. Both the Historic Napa location and Venetian Estate offer incredible Cave Experiences and Barrel Tastings!
Photography by Mario Piombo
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