2025 Marketplace renovation

A long time coming….

In the early 1970s, Dario Sattui realized his dream of reviving his great-grandfather’s winery in St. Helena.  With $5000 of his own money from selling t-shirts at sporting events at San Jose State University, together with funds from college buddies and a few investors, he raised at total of $52,500. This amount was far shy of his $100,000 goal; but nonetheless, he began construction of the original winery building, now our marketplace and tasting room.

Dario was his own contractor and employed college kids from Pacific Union College in Angwin to save money on construction costs.  His budget was limited to $15 a square foot, unheard of in commercial construction, yet he completed the building within budget and the doors opened on March 4, 1976.

Forty years later, we knew we were long overdue for a remodel of our marketplace. In 2018, we received permission from Napa County to expand the commercial operations by 2,370 square feet by adding an additional 28 feet to the north of the existing building, nearly doubling the current deli space.  By the time we finished the drawings in early 2020, the Pandemic put everything on hold.   

Two years ago, we partnered with BCV, an award-winning architecture and interior design firm in San Francisco, to re-imagine our marketplace floorplan and design while honoring the authenticity and warmness of the V. Sattui experience. Local architects, Ryan Chandler designed the exterior of the building to match the majesty of the stone winery’s iconic Italianate architecture and I Marie White provided the outdoor landscapes.

Construction is set to begin this Spring and highlights include:

• Sapele Mahagony hard wood bars and display cases
• Wide, oak plank floors
• All-seated wine bar tastings with expanded food pairings
• A 26 ft. long custom vertical refrigerated wall of cheeses
• Italian deli and cheese cases.
• Center grab and go island.
• 20 ft diameter center wine bar
• A center roof clearstory with windows to admit outdoor light.
• 34 ft seated back wine bar with views outside into the seated outdoor ivy-covered patio and vineyards.
• Dramatic 20 ft. diameter center wine bar with hanging 360-degree light fixture made from wrought-iron and wine bottles.
• 2 ft. wide, 26 ft tall stone front wall façade & handmade 12 ft tall wood entrance doors.
• Additional and expanded restrooms.
• Center fountain, rock walls and gardens in front of marketplace

During construction, modular buildings and a mobile kitchen will be installed on the picnic grounds to provide temporary food service and wine sales.  Anticipated completion is set for Spring of 2025!