Lynn Catania is sunshine personified. Her sunny personality lights up our Cellar Club when she’s pouring wine for members, and it’s perfect for the outreach she does with our local hotels and B&B’s.   Her smile is infectious, especially after she’s hit you with a quick witted a one-liner, or bursts into song with her beautiful voice.

Lynn is a Napa local and grew up working at her family’s restaurant, Catania’s Pizza, which was a favorite hangout for locals. This job fueled her passion for cooking, a hobby she still continues today.  She’s also a great floral designer and even owned her own flower shop at one time.

Q: When did you first start at V. Sattui?

A: “The first time, I was 18 years old. A friend got me a job working in the deli.  This was back in the day when we didn’t have an automatic vacuum sealer for the deli meats. It was all hand-done by wrapping the plastic really tight. My arms still ache when I think about it! I also worked in the cheese case and at the registers.

About 18 years later, I worked in our Events Department helping with weddings and parties.  A few years ago I was working at Artesa Winery in the Tasting Room, and Tom (Davies, President of V. Sattui) called me one day and asked, ‘When do you want to come home?’ And that was it. Working here is like coming back to family.  It’s my home base.”

Q:  Now you work in our Cellar Club and get to see our best members daily. You also help out with our Wine of the Month Club? 

A:  “I love our members. I have so much fun down there!  People come from all over the world to see us. They just love V. Sattui Winery.  I have members that come in and want to have lunch with me, which I’m just too busy to do!  They plan a day just to come here, and don’t want to visit anywhere else. I get invitations to visit their homes.  They’ll say ‘If you’re ever in St Louis, or San Antonio, or Hawaii or wherever – you can stay with us.’  They bring me gifts too. I got a Lady Gaga toothbrush once!  V. Sattui isn’t just a Winery, it is a wonderful, extended family.”

Q:  Speaking of family, you recently got to visit family in Italy and learn to cook some of their dishes?
A:  Yes, I visited my Aunt in Sicily.  On the 4th day of the six that I stayed with her, she allowed me into the kitchen to help her cook.  This was a major accomplishment!

Q:  What is your favorite V. Sattui Wine?
A:  I’m very seasonal with my drinking. I like the Anderson Riesling in the summer. It’s not overly dry, but has these nice crisp, apple flavors. In the fall, I just love the Entanglement. I always tell people this is the wine I reach for when I hit a wall with Pinot. It’s a chameleon wine – it can be heavy and seductive or bright and acidic.  In the winter I really love our Morisoli or Mt Veeder Cabernets.