THE NEXT 50 YEARS – CHALLENGES AND INNOVATION If the next 50 years are anything like the last 50, we are in for more wild rides. If you read the news, you find that negativity sells, and it seems the wine industry is in the crosshairs of everyone that writes about it. Wine glut, over-production, changing demographics, grapevine viruses, health concerns and climate change are just some of today’s headlines. To this industry veteran (nice way of saying “old timer”), this is par for the course. Farming has never been easy, nor will it ever be. History has a way of repeating itself, and I anticipate we will revisit many of the same challenges and events that have shaped our industry since grapevines were first planted in 1779 by Spanish Father Junipero Serra at Mission San Juan Capistrano. For those that know me well, they know I don’t spend time thinking about the past or reminiscing about better times. To me, the best of times are ahead of us. Today, we have more tools and knowledge to overcome challenges and create wines that continue to show our collective talents and creativity. We will also become better farmers, farming in harmony with our land and environment rather than exploiting it. Most importantly, V. Sattui Winery will continue to be that place, where friends and family come together to
I was listening to the radio this morning and heard that NBA star Kevin Durant joined an elite group of 8 NBA players to score 30,000 points. Durant joins the ranks of NBA greats, including Michael Jordan, Kobe, Wilt Chamberlain, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. In the Davies’ household this is a big deal, as Cara has hanging in our hallway a signed KD jersey from his time with the Golden State Warriors!
This got me thinking about how hard it is to reach these milestones. Nearly 5,000 players have played in the NBA since its inception 76 years ago in 1949, and only 8 have surpassed 30,000 points. Reaching milestones in the wine industry is just as rare as the 30,000-point club. 2025 marks our 50th anniversary of making wine in the Napa Valley. Our early history goes back 140 years to San Francisco when the winery was originally founded in 1885 by Vittorio Sattui, and in 1975, Vittorio’s great grandson, Dario produced his very first vintage in the Napa Valley of less than 500 cases.
celebrate life on picnic tables shaded by century-old oak and olive trees with a great bottle of wine, good eats and surrounded by one of the most beautiful and magical places on earth, the Napa Valley. There has never been a better time to come back and visit V. Sattui. Please join us this year to help us celebrate 50 years, the grand opening of our Mercato del Gusto, and some of the best wines ever produced by V. Sattui Winery! Can’t wait to see you,
In 1975, there were 45 wineries in the Napa Valley and only 231 in all of California. Today, we have over 500 wineries in the Napa Valley and nearly 4,900 wineries in California. If we look further into the numbers, of all the wineries operating in the Napa Valley 50 years ago or longer, less than a dozen are still operating and owned in the same family today. I am humbled by this feat, as I’m sure KD is about his lifetime achievement. So much must go right, and without the nearly one thousand employees over the 50-year span contributing hard work, skill and tenacity to be the best, or the 10+ million visitors spending an afternoon on our picnic grounds enjoying great wines, salami, and cheese with friends and loved ones, we wouldn’t be celebrating 50 years today.
Tom C. Davies President
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