Spoto Wines
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Spoto Family Wines is a boutique winery in Sacramento, California, owned and operated by the Spoto family. The winemaker, Stuart Spoto, makes Bordeaux-style blends with grapes from the Oakville Station (part of the historic To Kalon vineyard) in Oakville, California.
Stuart's grandfather, Enrico Rodolfo Spoto, Sr., emigrated to the United States on December 1, 1913 from Catania, Sicily at the age of 15. He moved to California, where he started a family and ran a fruit and nut tree nursery. His son, Henry Spoto, Jr., a first generation Italian-American, taught himself to make wine. At the age of 16, Henry's son Stuart expressed an interest in the process. Henry, at the time a Cal-Trans appraiser, made wine only in his spare time. Over time, Henry began spending more time making wine and seeking advice from the experts at the University of California at Davis' Viticulture and Enology Department. In the early years, Henry and Stuart learned the techniques and chemistry necessary to make good wines. Stuart later attended the University of California at Davis and studied chemical and civil engineering. Winemaking became a hobby for both men, and in 2000, they began creating their own individual vintages.[1][2]
In 2004, Stuart built and licensed the first bonded winery in a residential neighborhood in Sacramento County, allowing him to sell his wines.[3]
By 2010, Stuart took the wine business on full-time. In November 2010, Spoto Family Wines was invited to be a member of the Oakville Wine Growers Association[4] which promotes the Oakville AVA as a premium Cabernet Sauvignon region in the US. A year later, Spoto Family Wines was granted membership into the Napa Valley Vintners, which promotes Napa Valley wines.[5]
Stuart's wife Christy is an integral part of the day-to-day operations and production at the winery. Stuart's oldest daughter, Arianna, graduated in 2011 from California Polytechnic University at San Luis Obispo with a degree in wine and viticulture, and has worked with distribution. His youngest daughter, Alexi, manages the winery's public relations and social media accounts.
Spoto Family Wines were served at two major wine events in 2012, the Napa Valley Auction, and a Taste of Oakville at Carnegie Hall[6][7].
References[edit]
- ^ "Grapes For Glory". WineSpectator.com. 30 June 2003.
- ^ Sanchez, Edgar (26 May 2007). "Winery Feels Right at Home" (PDF). Sacbee.com. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
- ^ "The Winemaker Next Door". Sacramento Magazine. 19 October 2009.
- ^ "Oakville Winegrowers: Members".
- ^ "Spoto Family Wines". Napa Valley Vintners.
- ^ "Taste of Oakville: Live at Carnegie Hall". www.carnegiehall.org. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-01-03.
- ^ "Wine Buzz: Arden Oaks' Spoto expanding". Archived from the original on January 6, 2013. Retrieved January 19, 2013.