The Trinchero family has completed its first crush at Trinchero Napa Valley, their new flagship winery in St. Helena.
Visitors to the new winery will witness history in the making as the next two phases of construction near completion: a state-of-the-art culinary center which is expected to be completed next spring, and a new hospitality facility which will replace the current tasting room, slated to open in the fall of 2009.
A live webcam has been installed, so visitors to the Trinchero Web site can get a first-hand look at the progress.
Trinchero Napa Valley has been erected on the site of the former Folie a Deux winery, just north of downtown St. Helena on Highway 29. The winery was established to honor the legacy of Trinchero Family Estates founder Mario Trinchero, and will produce small-production, luxury-class, single-vineyard wines from its prime estates throughout the Napa Valley.
“This winery has tremendous significance for my family because it is a tribute to the hard work and sacrifice of my grandfather,” explained Robert Torres, grandson of Mario Trinchero and Principal & Senior Vice President of Facilities and Operations. “Every detail of its design was conceived to create wines of exceptional caliber, from the sophisticated grape storage and sorting equipment, to the small fermentation tanks for isolating especially promising portions of our vineyards.”
“It’s a jewel of a site, offering incredible views of Spring and Howell Mountains, and possessing a superb 13-acre sustainably farmed Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard.”
Mario Monticelli was brought on as head winemaker. A former protege of celebrated winemaking consultant Philippe Melka, Monticelli has worked on some of the most lauded brands in the Napa Valley. He also served as winemaker at Quioxote Winery in the Stags Leap District before joining Trinchero Napa Valley.
Sixty years ago, Italian immigrant Mario Trinchero moved his family from New York to St. Helena, in the heart of Napa Valley wine country. He and his brother John partnered in the purchase of the then dilapidated Sutter Home winery, thus launching what would become one of the wine industry’s most fabled success stories.
Today, Trinchero Family Estates is the second largest family-owned wine business in America. Mario’s three children, along with two of his grandchildren, are actively involved in running the family business.
