Discovering Trinchero Napa Valley Winery
In the heart of the oh-so-beautiful Napa Valley, I had the opportunity to attend Trinchero Napa Valley’s wine launch event in February 2024. Nurtured by a family legacy that spans 75 years, the Trinchero family’s winery has evolved into the country’s second-largest family-owned winery. This year, they recently unveiled six incredible new wines, continuing their tradition of winemaking innovation, and I was invited to taste them and experience the hospitality of their award-winning vineyard.
From meeting Trinchero’s chief winemaker Landon Donley and tasting their brand new wines, to creating our very own custom hats with the Hattery, and learning how to make mozzarella cheese, the evening was so memorable and fun.
Let’s Talk About the History of Trinchero Napa Valley
The incredible story of Trinchero Napa Valley starts in the late ’40s, with Italian immigrants Mario and Mary Trinchero leaving New York City and into the gorgeous rolling vineyards of Napa Valley. At the time, Mario saw an opportunity to purchase a vineyard and get into the wine industry. Little did they know that they would become among the region’s 15 pioneering wineries, the most iconic and notable winery, and one of the biggest wineries in Napa Valley that still stands strong today.
The six new wines that launched in 2024 embody the history of Mario and Mary’s journey from New York City to Napa Valley. All of the wines on this portfolio were curated by Chief Winemaker Landon Donley.
Trinchero Napa Valley Winery Photos from the Past
Let’s Talk About Trinchero Napa Valley’s 6 New Wine Varietals
Spoiler alert: They all taste absolutely divine.
Trinchero Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon: Tale of Brothers
The 2021 Tale of Brothers Cabernet Sauvignon is a tribute to brothers Bob and Roger Trinchero.
This cab sauv reflects their journey from humble beginnings to an esteemed wine brand. It’s a blend that mirrors the Trinchero family’s unity, with grapes from Haystack Vineyard on Atlas Peak and Clouds Nest Vineyard on Mount Veeder. Their variances enhance the wine’s complex profile.
The wine itself mirrors Bob & Roger’s distinct characteristics. Haystack, with its assertive and bold character, undergoes a process designed to coax out deep, opulent tannins and a complexity of flavors, mirroring Roger’s robust approach to life and winemaking. In contrast, Clouds Nest’s offerings are treated to highlight their innate freshness and grace, a nod to Bob’s refined and thoughtful nature.
The final blend contains 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Malbec, 2% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc, displaying exquisite balance. The Tale of Brothers, with 14.5% alcohol content and a pH of 3.87, released on January 1, 2024 (all of the wines were released on January 1st) in just 500 cases (every single wine in this collection are being released in 500 cases each), promises a unique story in each bottle, encapsulating two brothers’ passion for winemaking excellence.
Trinchero Napa Valley Red Wine: Traces of Manhattan
Traces of Manhattan was created to be as lively and unforgettable as a New York Minute. This wine embodies the pulsating energy of Manhattan, and honors Trinchero’s early days in the US.
The wine is reminiscent of a love letter to the complex character of the city that never sleeps. It’s flavor comes from the sun-kissed slopes of Haystack and Clouds Nest to the heights of Howell Mountain. It’s got a very dynamic taste, as it marries the boldness of Malbex and Cabernet Sauvignon, the darkness of Petit Verdot, and the spice of Cabernet Franc.
Aged over 16 months in oak and then through an extended bottle maturation, the wine delivers a smooth texture appealing to both connoisseurs and casual drinkers.
The 2024 vintage was one of my faves. Aged in a mix of new and seasoned medium-plus toast French oak, and with an alcohol content of 14.5% and a pH of 3.89, this blend captures the fascinating interplay between an exhilarating city and a distinguished winemaking heritage.
Trinchero Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon: Central Park West
When the Trinchero family were living in New York City, Mario Trinchero’s daily commute was a walk through Central Park to the Waldorf Astoria. This wine was cultivated St. Helena’s Central Park West Vineyard, and it offers a sophisticated blend loaded with black and blue fruit aromas, a refined texture, and silky tannins.
Legendary winemaker Andre Tchelistcheff lead cultivation in this vineyard, favoring the sun-soaked St. Helena terrain, ideal for red Bordeaux varietals. The 34-year-old vines yield small, potent clusters that result in silky, low-yield harvests.
The cabernet undergoes warm fermentation and extended skin contact, rounded out with Malbec and Merlot for added lushness. A 20-month barrel regime, with 77% new French oak, emphasizes the vibrant fruit flavors.
The 2021 vintage, composed of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Malbec, and 3% Merlot, carries an alcohol content of 14.5% and a pH of 3.91. Central Park West is a bottle of legacy, echoing its rich origins with every sip.
Trinchero Napa Valley Chardonnay: Sisters-in-Law
The Sisters-in-Law Chardonnay honors Vera Trinchero-Torres and Evalyn Trinchero, two women who had very distinct characteristics but together made magic. Sisters-In-Law blends Evalyn’s understated elegance with Vera’s lively wit. Sourced from Vista Montone vineyard in south Napa, this wine embodies their differing styles: Clone 76 from the cool, shaded Block 11C provides complexity akin to Evalyn’s sophistication, while the sunny Block 8C’s fruit embodies Vera’s vibrancy.
Each vineyard block’s grapes are processed uniquely—11C’s in new French and Austrian oak to enhance full-bodied aromas, tempered with a hint of malolactic fermentation; 8C’s in used oak and concrete to maintain its fruity zest.
This exclusive, single-varietal Chardonnay, aged for 10 months in a mix of oak and seasoned tanks, strikes a balance between depth and liveliness. At 13.5% alcohol and a pH of 3.60, a vinous representation of family unity and distinct personalities combined.
Trinchero Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon: All the Hats, Mario’s
All the Hats Mario’s Cabernet Sauvignon celebrates the Trinchero family’s industrious legacy, mirroring Mary and Mario’s dedication to winemaking and family life. This versatile wine is meant to enhance gatherings with its accessible charm that promotes family togetherness. Keep this in mind for the next holiday get-together with the family!
Sourced from the family’s Mario’s Vineyard in St. Helena, this 13-acre site is defined by diverse soils and a favorable northwest exposure, contributing to a classic, medium-bodied Cabernet with a focus on red fruit flavors accompanied by floral and savory notes.
The winemaking process includes a cool fermentation to preserve the wine’s red fruit and floral character, followed by aging in a balanced mix of used and new medium-toast French oak to finesse its flavor, complemented by a touch of robust Cabernet Franc from Howell Mountain.
This varietal mix comprises 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec, and 1% Petit Verdot, matured for 20 months in 42% new French oak barrels. It boasts a 14.5% alcohol content and a pH of 3.82, revealing a well-rounded profile. Each glass of All the Hats is a tribute to the Trinchero family’s multifaceted journey through wine.
Trinchero Napa Valley’s Cabernet Sauvignon: All the Hats, Mary’s
The All The Hats Sauvignon Blanc Mary’s is a product of meticulous winemaking that reflects Mary Trinchero’s tenacity. It’s sourced from Mary’s Vineyard in Calistoga, home to two Sauvignon Blanc clones—structural Clone 1 and aromatic Musqué—creating a complex blend from the oldest organically-certified Sauvignon Blanc vines in Napa.
Harvested at night, the grapes undergo a slow, whole-cluster press. Each clone is then barrel-fermented and aged on lees for ten months—Clone 1 in used French and new Austrian oak, Musqué in stainless steel—to preserve their character.
This 100% Sauvignon Blanc comprises of 81% Clone 1 and 19% Musqué, aged for ten months in different types of oak and stainless steel. With its 13.5% alcohol and 3.20 pH indicate balance, this wine, again, captures the Trinchero family’s devotion and skill in winemaking.
A Recap of the February 2024 Event
Meeting Landon Donley, the Chief Winemaker of Trinchero Napa Valley
The man behind the wines is Trinchero’s Chief Winemaker, Landon Donley. It’s admirable to see someone so passionate in creating wine, and knowing how to craft a story through meticulous attention to every detail of the process of making wine. Prior to this event and meeting Landon, I truly had no idea how much thought and love could be placed in a bottle of wine. As I learn more about wine, the more I grow an appreciation for winemakers, because they’ve mastered telling a story through winemaking and it’s a privilege to be able to taste them.
Because of this realization, I always recommend meeting with the winemaker of whatever winery you’re at and just simply asking what inspires them.
Creating Custom Hats
A local milliner was also at the event, guiding us to create our custom hats—a charming tribute to the new All the Hats Sauvignon Blanc & Cabernet Sauvignon. Watching hats of different colors and styles take shape added a unique personal touch to the event, reminding us of the bespoke nature of Trinchero’s winemaking approach.
Mozzarella 101
Our journey to this gorgeous vineyard was completed with a demonstration of fresh mozzarella making—an authentic touch echoing the Trinchero family’s Italian heritage.
The creamy, rich cheese paired perfectly with the robust flavors of the wines. It was truly the best mozzarella I’ve ever had, and it’s now inspired me to create my own instead of picking it up at the store!
Trinchero Napa Valley Winery Review
Before I close out on my event recap, I wanted to express my gratitude to the Trinchero Napa Valley team and AMP3 PR for throwing such a thoughtful and intimate event. I appreciated the backstories behind all the bottles, making each sip extra special. These wines are absolutely delicious, and the history behind it all just makes it even better.
Booking a Private Tour with Landon Donley at Trinchero Napa Valley
As I said earlier, it’s a privilege to be able to meet winemakers and have a conversation with them about what inspires them, what motivates them, and what it’s like to be immersed in the timeless art of viticulture.
You can book a Trinchero Napa Valley Winery tour or a private tour at Trinchero Napa Valley, which I highly recommend. A private tour ensures you get a behind-the-scenes pass to one of the most coveted wineries in Napa Valley.
You’ll get to see that when you’re chatting with Landon, you get the sense that he doesn’t just ‘make wine’—he lives it. You’ll get to see some of the 34-year old vines at their Calistoga vineyard. You get to learn more about Trinchero’s history and how it came to be. There’s so much value to having a private tour!
I learned so much about wine and the winemaking process during my tour with Landon. If you’re a lover of wine, looking to expand your knowledge about wine, and find out more about the best winery in Napa Valley, a private tour is the best way to go.
I hope this inspires you to book your next visit to Trinchero! I can’t wait to hear what you think.
