Scotto Family Cellars — A Family Winemaking Tradition Continues

As with many Italian families, wine is an important part of Scotto family life. For at least five generations, Scotto family members have been making and selling wine, first in their native Italy, then in New York after the first family members came to the U.S. in 1903.

Even before leaving Brooklyn for California, the family purchased grapes from Lodi, California growers to make their table wine. That connection between the Scotto family and Lodi growers continued after their move to California in 1963.

The current generation of the Scotto family operates Scotto Family Cellars in Lodi where they make small-lot wines sourced from Lodi AVA grapes. That’s not all this busy winemaking family is up to though, as you will note from a quick look at their website.

Thanks to a connection we made with Bradley Gray during the recent Wine Bloggers Conference (he was pouring hard cider made by two Scotto siblings at an after party), we received two bottles of Scotto Family Cellars wine as tasting samples. We decided to plan and evening menu around the two wines to see how they paired with food.

With the weather taking a definite turn toward fall, I decided to prepare a hearty beef and vegetable stew. I braised the meat for several hours and then added the vegetables during the last hour. Cooking the stew low and slow resulted in a tender dish, rich in flavor, which we found paired quite nicely with both wines.

2011 Scotto Family Cellars Old Vine Zinfandel — ruby with garnet tones in the glass and generous red fruit aromas. Hints of vanilla and wood spice combine with ripe raspberries and blackberries. Tannins are smooth, but provide nice structure along with lingering fruit flavors and good acidity. 13% abv.

50-year old vines from the Mokelumne River AVA are the source for this Old Vine Zinfandel. It is easy to like and even easier to drink. This Zin has plenty of flavor without being overripe or jammy. It’s not too hot, not too ripe, just right. This is a red wine you could easily drink on its own (like while you’re preparing dinner), then take to the dinner table with you.

2012 Scotto Family Cellars Malbec — ruby-garnet colored in the glass with dark fruit and dusty straw aromas. Flavors are complex and dark, a combination of blackberries and currents with cedar spice. Tannins are a bit grippy and drying. A lovely, interesting combination of flavors and texture. 13% abv.

Once again, lots of flavor, but not too ripe, nice complexity and structure. 3% Cabernet Franc is added to the Malbec, which is sourced from the Borden Ranch and Clements Hills AVAs. Both AVAs are located in the foothills east of Lodi where the climate is a bit warmer.

At around $14.99 per bottle, both wines offer very good quality for the price and make an excellent choice for dinner any day of the week. We found both wines paired equally well with our beef and vegetable stew, and if I had to choose a favorite it would be the Malbec. Love those tannins and the dark, complex flavors.

Thanks, Bradley for sending Scotto Family Cellars wine our way.

Cheers!