Madonna Estate, a family affair
The storied Madonna Estate blends rich history with innovative viticulture to lead America’s premier wine valley into the new millennium. Founded in 1922, Napa Valley’s second-oldest continuously run family winery provides a natural confluence of certified organic techniques and “dry farming” to ensure maximum grape quality and flavor.
Planting six varietals across 105 planted acres, the grapes crushed for the esteemed Madonna Estate program are in high demand for reserve programs at several neighbors. Tastings in the main and reserve tasting rooms are available daily. Appointments are recommended for the reserve tasting room. Estate tours provide great insights into the historical winery and its prescient sustainable farming techniques. Two picnic areas provide a sublime setting for a post-tasting respite or tour break.
The fascinating history of the Bartolucci family’s emergence as one of Northern California’s preeminent winemakers began when Andrea Bartolucci landed on Ellis Island in 1912. He subsequently traveled to help construct the French Exhibition Building for San Francisco’s Panama-Pacific International Exposition. As the Exposition drew to a close, Andrea set north to establish his first 24-acre vineyard and winery. Madonna Estate manifested Bartolucci’s immigrant fortitude and ultimately, his American dream.
In 1934, Andrea and son Louis created some of Napa Valley’s earliest wines just one decade after overcoming a massive fire that devastated the fledgling winery and two-year-old vineyards. Louis eventually purchased more acreage and established pioneering varietal vineyards, and in 1946, he developed Mont St. John Cellars into California’s 12th-largest winery.
Hard work and family dedication runs deep at Madonna Estate. Louis’ son Andrea “Buck” Bartolucci joined his father in 1967 as an assistant winemaker. Just three years later, the third-generation California winemaker purchased 160 bare acres in the undeveloped Carneros region, where he harvested Pinot Noir grapes in four years. The first vintage of Madonna Estate Vineyard’s Pinot Noir arrived in 1979.
From the original purchase in 1970, the Bartolucci family, who would resettle on the estate, implemented organic growing techniques on the Madonna vineyards. The vineyard received organic certification from the California Certified Organic Farmers in 1991.
Dry farming means the family only irrigates its grapes until they have established a root system, following the traditional idea that rainwater reliance creates a stronger vine and produces more intense varietal characteristics. This methodology favors the estate’s eight varietals: Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Dolcetto, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gewurztraminer, and Muscat Canelli.
More plantings, expanded sales, and additional family involvement followed over the course of the next two decades as the winery, with sales as far as Japan and a facility stretching to 15,500 square feet, welcomed Brette Bartolucci in 1997. Brette currently serves as Madonna Estate’s vice president and wine club manager.
One year before the winery celebrated its 80th anniversary, the Madonna Estate label reappeared. More fourth-generation involvement arrived in 2005, when Taylor Bartolucci returned from a high-powered LA marketing firm to assume her role as director of public relations for the family’s vineyards and winery.
Building a family winery requires exacting attention to detail, so it is no surprise that Madonna Estate commissioned a highly regarded folk artist to paint the annual Hallovine Wine label. Sandra Evertson, an actress, designer, and author, debuts as the label artist for the 2016 Hallovine Pinot Noir.
A winemaker who plants a rootstock in nontraditional terroir often makes nascent discoveries. To this end, in its 90th year, Madonna Estate released a completely new vintage, a crisp and fruity Pinot Noir Pinot Rosetto, celebrating its legacy with novel creations. Like all Bartolucci vintages, the Pinto Rosetto is grown in a natural organic environment using the St. George rootstock.
Buck Bartolucci relocated to the then-undiscovered Carneros region of Napa County more than four decades ago. As he anticipated, the cooler microclimate combined with the clay loam soil provided an ideal growing environment for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. Today, Andrea Bartolucci, along with his wife Susan and their daughters, Brette and Taylor, lives and works on the Madonna Estate growing wine with future generations of Bartoluccis in mind. Visit the Madonna Estate and learn how old country meets new and why sustainable organic techniques provide the key to a family’s lasting legacy.