Sutter Home Winery
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Sutter Home Winery is one of the largest, independent, family-run wineries in the United States.
[edit] History
The history of the winery dates back to 1874, when a Swiss-German immigrant named John Thomann established a small winery and distillery in St. Helena, the heart of Napa Valley in California. After his death, the winery and Victorian home beside it were sold to another Swiss family, the Leunbergers. They rechristened the estate, Sutter Home.
As with most Napa Valley wineries, Sutter Home was shut down during Prohibition. The winery remained abandoned until 1947, when John and Mario Trinchero purchased it. They were immigrant brothers from New York City whose family had been active in the Italian wine business. The Trincheros refurbished the winery and began producing Napa Valley wines. For years they operated “mom-and-pop” style, selling to their Napa Valley neighbors who filled their barrels and bottles at the winery’s back door.[1]
A turning point occurred in 1968, when Bob Trinchero (Mario's oldest son) sampled a homemade Zinfandel made from grapes grown in the Sierra foothills, California’s famed Gold Rush country. Impressed by the character and intensity of this robust, spicy red wine, Bob began vinifying Amador County Zinfandel.[2]
In 1972, another of Bob Trinchero’s innovations provided the American wine consumer with a new style of premium wine known as White Zinfandel.[citation needed] This prompted the Trincheros to increase its production while refining the wine’s style to accentuate the fruitiness his customers found so appealing. White Zinfandel made Sutter Home a household name and one of the largest, independent family-run winery in the U.S.
[edit] Present
Still very much family-run, Bob and Roger Trinchero and Vera Trinchero Torres, along with Vera’s sons, Anthony and Robert Torres, manage a large winemaking organization, overseeing all operations from grapegrowing and production, to marketing and sales. The Trincheros are noted for their industry leadership, commitment to sustainable agriculture and preserving the environment.
Today, Sutter Home is the fifth-largest winery in the United States. All production, bottling, shipping and warehousing operations are concentrated in three state-of-the-art facilities in Napa County. The original winery site on Highway 29 houses the winery’s Visitors Center.
[edit] Wines
Sutter Home Winery produces 12 varietals including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, White Zinfandel, White Merlot, Gewurztraminer, Chenin Blanc, Moscato, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, Shiraz.
[edit] Location
Region: Napa Valley, California Appellation: California Total acreage planted, owned and controlled: 5,000+
[edit] References
- Heyhoe, Kate. Hock, Stanely. Harvesting the Dream: The Rags-to-Riches Tale of the Sutter Home Winery. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN 0-471-42972-4
- Sogg, Daniel (2004-07-20). The Business of Wine. Wine Spectator Online. Wine Spectator. Retrieved on 2008-01-04.
[edit] External links
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