The word dominari stems from the Latin verb dominatus, which means to practice superiority. Jurgen and Marie Schutz chose this word for the name of their winery a decade ago, because that is precisely what Marie wanted to do as a winemaker.
It was 2001, and the Schutzes had already earned an enviable reputation for growing excellent Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes on their 1,700-foot-high ranch on Atlas Peak. It seemed the more the grapes increased in demand, the more Marie became interested in making her own wine. After building a winery in the industrial part of southern Napa, they formed a partnership with Michael and Marieann Perri (Marieann is with Scoma’s Restaurant in San Francisco). The two couples purchased a new property where Trancas Road intersects Big Ranch Road and built a second winery housing custom crush equipment and a beautiful tasting room.
Actually, the tasting room, with its chic marble bar and overstuffed sofas, seems more like an inviting lounge. Those interested in tasting Dominari wines with thoughtfully paired food selections are seated at a formal dining table. No matter where one chooses to sit, the exquisite small-lot wines take center stage.
The wines are popular—not only with tasting room guests and members of the winery’s Connoisseur’s Cellar Club but also with wine judges nationwide. Over the past 10 years, Dominari wines have consistently won top medals and high praise in many competitions. The 2007 Petite Sirah won gold at the Florida State Fair. A real source of pride for the Schutzes, it hails from the Napa Valley’s Nichelini Ranch. The luscious 2005 Dominari Cabernet Sauvignon earned Silver at the New World International Wine Competition, and the 2006 Dominari Chardonnay garnered a silver at the National Women’s Winemaker Challenge.
Today, the word dominari means more than a guiding principle. It stands for a singular portfolio of superb wines.