Let's catch up with Stuart Spoto, the Sacramentan who creates wine from pristine Napa Valley grapes out of his Arden Oaks home. Spoto is in expansion mode and securing some tasty new accounts.
One of those is Dean & Deluca, the noted gourmet grocer and wine shop in St. Helena, which now carries Spoto Wines' 2009 Cuvée Alexi, a Bordeuax-styled red blend. Once Spoto finishes bottling his 2009 Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, which is expected next week, Dean & Deluca will begin carrying that soon, as well.
While Spoto creates the bulk of his boutique wines here in Sacramento, he's doing a custom crush at the Laird Family Estate Winery near Oak Knoll Road in Napa. This not only will allow Spoto to boost his production to upward of 1,000 cases annually but also has brought Spoto Wines into the Napa Valley Vintners Association.
That partnership makes Spoto Wines privy to some key Napa tasting events, including a recent tasting of Oakville wines at Premiere Napa Valley.
"It was a really nice deal," Spoto said. "It was in a cave at Far Niente, and our wines showed really well."
Spoto is also looking ahead to pouring his wines later this year at one of the country's signature performance halls. In November, the Oakville Growers Association will host a tasting for both the wine trade and general public at New York City's Carnegie Hall.
Meanwhile, sales of Spoto's wines have never been stronger. And that's especially sweet for him, given that some of his bottles sell for nearly $100.
"This is the first year my cabernet sold out within seven to eight months," Spoto said. "That's not easy when it's $95 a bottle, but that had a lot to do with participating with Napa Valley Vintners."
For more information: http://shop.spotowines.com.
Sippin' in the suburbs
Mark your calendars for June 1, when A Taste of Fair Oaks touches down at North Ridge Country Club, 7600 Madison Ave., Fair Oaks. The event features edibles from local restaurants and drink from more than two dozen wineries, plus local breweries, too.
Vino Noceto Winery, Terra d'Oro, Carvalho Family Wineries are among those who are confirmed.
Tickets are $35 pre-sale and $45 at the door.
Information: www.fairoakschamber.com.
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