Winery Story: Salvestrin Winery

Originally published by Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW of The Wine Palate |

Salvestrin’s Dr. Crane Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a fresh, vibrant style that not only ages gracefully but also beautifully expresses that earthy signature of this singular site, not to mention four generations (and hopefully many more) of the Salvestrin family’s ownership.

The other Dr. Crane

Dr. George Belden Crane is a familiar name among Napa Valley wine history enthusiasts. Originally from New York, he purchased over 300 acres of land in northern Napa Valley in 1859. As one of the first to plant Vitis vinifera vines in this area during the mid-1800s, he was a pioneer in the region’s viticulture. Today, portions of the original property continue to be planted with vines and are commonly known as Dr. Crane Vineyard. The most renowned section of Dr. Crane Vineyard was acquired by Andy Beckstoffer in 1997: Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard. Situated next to St. Helena Primary School, this parcel spans approximately 21 planted acres, which were replanted in 1998 after its acquisition. Today, more than a dozen wineries source fruit from Beckstoffer’s Dr. Crane Vineyard to create some of the region’s most sought-after single-vineyard wines. However, Beckstoffer’s is not the only Dr. Crane Vineyard in Napa Valley. Located very close by, just off Highway 29, is another Dr. Crane Vineyard. Although less well-known, it also produces stunning wines with a characteristic earthy/minerally profile that bears an uncanny resemblance to the DNA of its sibling. The Salvestrin family owns this section.

The Salvestrin’s

Italian immigrants Emma and John Salvestrin first came to St. Helena in the 1920s. In 1932, they bought part of the former ranch of Dr. George Belden Crane, including 19 acres of vineyard land and his beautiful Victorian homestead, which remains in the family to this day. Emma’s and John’s timing was good because Prohibition was repealed the very next year, allowing them to begin selling their grapes to the recovering wine industry. Their son, Ed Salvestrin, continued maintaining the vineyard and selling the grapes from their Dr. Crane Vineyard throughout the 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s. Ed’s son, Rich Salvestrin, completed his degree in viticulture in 1987 and joined his father in managing and expanding the family’s grape-growing business. Among their vineyard holdings today, they continue to farm their 19-acre section of Dr. Crane Vineyard.

“We only started making our own wine in 1994,” said Rich Salvestrin. “We decided it was time. The first few vintages were made at Rombauer’s winery. Then in 2001, we completed our own winery, which we’ve just expanded.”

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