Ca'Momi Merlot 2021

Vinification

The wine was aged for 10 months in French and American oak.

Tasting notes

Deep garnet in color, with aromas of dark berries and chocolate. On the palate, there are flavors of ripe blackberry, cherry, plum and a hint of vanilla. The finish is smooth and lingering, with the fruit flavors and tannins providing a satisfying balance.

Gold Medal - 2023 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

Producer Description

Ca’ Momi is built on Napa Valley soil, but the roots extend to soulful Italian tradition. Founders Valentina Guolo-Migotto, Dario De Conti and Stefano Migotto all grew up in Italy, where the community comes together around the table. They brought this tradition to Napa Valley with all the fiery passion you’d expect from three Italians.

Dario grew up on his family’s farm in Veneto, Italy. He began formal education in enology at age 14, and ten years later received his Masters’ degree in winemaking. Dario funded his decade of tuition payments by working at his family’s pizzeria, where he learned the fine art of the pizzaiolo and ignited a lifelong passion for pizza. He also found inspiration in Italian wine culture, which treats wine as a joyful part of everyday life, rather than something to show off or put on a pedestal. After eight years of crafting wine in Italy, Dario brought his zero-pretension winemaking to Napa Valley, where he partnered with Valentina Guolo-Migotto and Stefano Migotto to launch Ca’ Momi in 2006. He pours his playful spirit and loving intention into every heartcrafted wine he makes.

Stefano is a third-generation vintner and distiller from Abano Terme in Northern Italy. He grew up helping in his family’s winery from the time he could walk and eventually took over its leadership. After earning an enology degree from Scuola Enologica di Conegliano, Stefano moved to the United States with 12 years of winemaking experience and a taste for new adventures. He spends most of his time at the winery running production and geeking out on wine equipment. His commitment to authentic, soulful winemaking is surpassed only by his dedication to his children.

Valentina was raised in the Veneto region of Italy, but in 1997 packed her bags for California with an entrepreneurial twinkle in her eye. As Chief Evolutionary Officer, Valentina leads the winery’s local and international charitable initiatives.

Ask any Italian the secret to good cooking and you’ll get the same answer: quality ingredients. Winemaking is the same… you have to start with great fruit to make great wine. Ca' Momi estate vineyards are the backbone of their wines, along with sourcing high-quality fruit from outstanding sites in the Napa Valley AVA. The Crescendo Vineyard in Los Carneros is an organically farmed estate vineyard. Napa Valley’s Los Carneros sub-appellation has some of the oldest, most highly prized vines in the area. The ten and a half acre old-vine Crescendo estate vineyard is still rocking Pinot Noir originally planted by Napa pioneer Kent Rasmussen, in the early 1970s. Vintners all across California have sought out budwood from these “Rasmussen clone” vines, hoping to inject a bit of their magic into other vineyard sites. Cercando Vineyard in Los Carneros is breezy, which has almost coastal weather giving it perfect growing conditions for all cool-climate varietals. A mile north of Crescendo is the Cercando estate vineyard and has nine acres of premium Chardonnay, Merlot, and Pinot Noir. Wild Horse Valley estate to the east sits at 1,400 feet above sea level, where the maritime winds from San Pablo Bay can still bring their essential chill factor.

Inspired by their Italian heritage and Dario's love of pizza, Ca' Momi eschewed opening a traditional tasting room and instead opened a restaurant in downtown Napa dedicated to their heartcrafted Italian cuisine with obsessive quality and integrity. They celebrate the simplicity of authentic Italian flavors and the incomparable quality of California grown organic ingredients along with the opportunity to enjoy Ca' Momi wines. In just a short time it has become a well-known hangout in downtown Napa.