County planners approve Del Dotto Yountville winery expansion
The third attempt was the charm for the Del Dotto family’s efforts to increase its wine production capacity and guest program at one of its Napa Valley wineries.
The Napa County Planning Commission on Aug. 20 voted to allow the family to boost annual wine production from 48,000 gallons to 75,000 gallons at its facility at Piazza Del Dotto on Highway 29 near Yountville. The vote was 4-0.
The plans call to build a 10,500 winery on the 21.7-acre site, which includes about 10 acres of planted vineyards. In addition, the Del Dotto family can dig an additional 16,500 square feet of caves.
The 21.7-acre site now includes an existing 6,500-square-foot hospitality building, a 7,000-square-foot outdoor work area, and 8,000 square feet of caves.
Under the terms of the new permit, daily visitation increases from 20,000 guests a year to 45,000 guests a year.
In addition, the winery can host up to six additional marketing events annually for up to 120 guests. The winery was already permitted to host 31 events annually, including one event for up to 100 visitors and another for up to 300 visitors.
The commission also agreed that the winery could use outdoor speakers.
Before the vote, Dave Del Dotto, speaking on behalf of his family, said that while the process has been frustrating, it has also produced a better plan.
“This application is very important to our family and its operations,” Del Dotto said. “We all understand what is happening industry-wide right now,” he added, referring to the struggling wine industry.
One issue is fire insurance. His family has “limited insurance” for their other locations in St. Helena, Atlas Peak, Pritchard Hill and Napa County Airport, said Del Dotto, who spoke a day before the Pickett Fire broke near Calistoga.
The Del Dotto family plans to consolidate wine storage in the caves at Piazza Del Dotto, he said. That will help with “insurance issues,” he said.
It will also help consolidate wine crush and winemaking operations, he said. That would reduce the number of truck trips, which will reduce costs and lower the winery’s carbon footprint.
The commission reviewed the project at two hearings in 2023 without approving the project after multiple questions were raised about the initial size of the proposal – a winery with an annual wine production of 100,000 gallons. The Del Dottos scaled back the proposal, but the commission remained concerned about water use.
Commissioners did ask if the increase in visitation was justified, given the fact that the winery currently processes 5,000 gallons of wine a year – far less than the 48,000 gallons of wine the winery was authorized to produce.
Bill Dodd, a former supervisor, state assemblyman and state senator, represented the Del Dotto family before the Planning Commission. He said the Del Dottos want to make sure there is wine production on site.
A condition was added so that no new visitation and marketing increases were to take place until the wine production area is constructed, operational and received a final certificate of approval. In addition, access to and from Yount Mill Road from the winery is limited to emergency and farming vehicles.
The winery reported it would use less water – 9.50 acre-feet of water a year instead of 11.02 acre-feet by using less water in the vineyards.
Commissioner Walter Brooks noted the vineyards were going to use 0.5 acre-feet per acre annually instead of 075 acre-feet per acre.
Questions were raised as to whether or not a well was within a subbasin where water availability is more restricted than in other areas.
However, Patrick Ryan, assistant director of Planning Building Environmental Services, said that well was outside the subbasin known as “GSA.”
A neighbor, David Moffitt, raised concerns about the current lack of wine production at the site, access to and from Yount Mill Road and other issues. On Tuesday, Moffitt referenced the use of outdoor music, which could set a precedent.
Charlene Gallina, supervising planner for Napa County, said neighbors can call in to complain if the music is too loud. The commissioners discussed adding a condition of approval to review the system after a year.
Neighbors who have a concern should call, Dodd answered. “The Del Dottos are good neighbors,” Dodd said. “This is not a loud speaker system,” he said. “I don’t think this is a big precedent that we’re setting here,” Dodd said.
The commissioners agreed before the vote, that Napa County has a mechanism in place to deal with complaints.
The Del Dotto family owns other facilities in Napa County. The other facilities include Del Dotto Estate at 1445 Highway 29-St. Helena Highway and Villa Del Lago at 1551 Sage Canyon Road near St. Helena; historic Del Dotto winery at 1055 Atlas Peak Road; and 540 Technology Way in Napa.
Commissioner Molly Moran Williams disclosed at the beginning of the meeting that she’s related by marriage to Bill Dodd and that her husband’s family owns property next to one of the Del Dotto’s other properties.
