Andretti Winery
Andretti Winery is a boutique winery in the Oak Knoll District portion of Napa, California.
| Andretti Winery | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | Napa, California, USA |
| Appellation | Napa Valley AVA |
| Founded | 1996 |
| First vintage | 1996 |
| Key people | Mario Andretti, Founder; Joe E. Antonioni, Founder and CEO |
| Parent company | Andretti Wine Group |
| Cases/yr | 42,000 (2007) |
| Known for | Cabernet Sauvignon Andretti Reserve |
| Varietals | Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Sauvignon blanc, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sangiovese, Pinot grigio, Pinot noir |
| Other products | Port, Sparkling Wine, Memorabilia |
| Distribution | international distribution, wine club, on-site sales |
| Tasting | by appointment only open to public |
| Website | http://www.andrettiwinery.com/ |
History
Begun as a "hobby" in 1996, the winery grew steadily. Mario Andretti's interest in the wine business arose from a commemorative bottling of wine he marketed to celebrate his retirement from auto racing in 1994.[1] Two years later Andretti and longtime friend Joe Antonini, former CEO of Kmart (which had sponsored Andretti's racing team) purchased a 53-acre (210,000 m2) vineyard and winery in the far north part of Napa, California, where they built a Tuscan-themed winery, tasting room, and guesthouse.[1] The property was under development as a winery at the time, with wine under production by the former owners.[2]
In 2001 the company conducted a financial transaction in which it sold the 53 acres (21 ha) to a Napa farming group. The winery then leased back the tasting room and events center. The company has no ownership stake in the nearby vineyards.
The winery is operated by a public company, Andretti Wine Group, that the founders formed in a "reverse public shell merger" in 1995. It raised $3 million via a public offering in 1998, however it is no longer publicly traded.[3]
Wines
Winemaker Bob Pepi, co-founder with his father of Robert Pepi Winery (now Pepi Winery), and owner of the "Eponymous" winery,[4] has been winemaker since the winery opened in 1996.[5] The winery produces a wide variety of "super-premium" category wines from grapes grown on-site and sourced from various locations in California. It also resells a small quantity of wine imported from Italy.[1]
References
- "The Hottest Small Brands of 2005". Wine Business Monthly. 2006-02-15.
- A.D. Amorosi (2002-05-09). "Mario Andretti". Philadelphia City Paper. Archived from the original on 2010-10-12.
- Ted Appel (1998-01-20). "Andretti Winery Looking to Stocks for Cash to Grow". Press Democrat.
- Fred Tasker (2006-01-23). "No-name Eponymous label has a big name behind it". Miami Herald.
- "Bob Pepi". Faces of Napa.
External links
- - andrettiwinery.com - official website