History
In 2008, the Scotto Family began preparing for the production of a collection of world class wines from Napa Valley dedicated to and named for their long time friend, trusted advisor and iconic California wine industry personality John McClelland.
J. McClelland Cellars was launched in celebration of the 10th anniversary of their friendship, John's continuing contribution to Scotto Cellars and to honor his six decades of service to the industry. All fruit would be sourced from select Napa Valley vineyards by Winery Director and Winemaker Paul Scotto and vinified with Winemaker Mark Smith at the Scotto family's newly acquired J. McClelland Cellars winery in the Valley's eastern hills
In 2014 the J. McClelland Cellars team was enhanced with the addition of Mitch Cosentino, the renowned and frequently awarded winemaker who brought many years of Napa Valley knowledge, experience and vineyard contacts to the project. Since its first release in 2015, JMC wines have garnered more than four dozen prestigious awards and 90+ point scores from highly respected critics as well as national and international wine competitions.
In 2013, the Scotto family decided to expand their Napa Valley presence by producing a wine honoring their 50th harvest in California. Although they envisioned 50 Harvests as a singular addition to their portfolio, it was also intended to memorialize the family's winemaking heritage originating on the Island of Ischia just off the Italian coast in 1883. That is when Salvatore Dominic Scotto began the family's five-generation journey producing quality wines to grace the table of eager followers.
In 2017 The Lost Chapters was born representing the culmination of 5th generation Winemaker Paul Scotto's dream. Each year Paul sources and crafts dozens of brands, varietals and blends for the Scotto Family's extensive wine portfolio. In his relentless search for just the right barrel lots to fit the profile of each bottling, Paul occasionally encounters something very special that deserves its own place. While these select and limited lots may enhance a given blend, they would also present themselves far better as a stand-alone that most likely would not be repeated in future vintages.
The Scotto family's vinous heritage and history dates back to 1883 when Salvatore Dominic Scotto, an officer in the Italian Navy, began making wine at their home on the Island of Ischia just off the coast of Italy. In addition to making wine for his family (a long-held custom in Italy), Salvatore also treated his friends and neighbors to the fruits of his labor.
Salvatore passed on the winemaking tradition to his son Dominic who in 1903, migrated to Brooklyn, NY, taking up residency in a brownstone near the docks where he was a ships caulker. He followed the Scotto family tradition by sharing his winemaking skills with his sons, and they began selling five gallon crocks from the family's horse-drawn wagon. In 1946, they opened D. Scotto Wines, a retail store in downtown Brooklyn that sold quality wines from around the world.
After Prohibition Anthony Sr. began selling his father's homemade wine in one gallon jugs from pushcarts and later, with his older brother Sal, created Villa Armando (nicknamed Rustico). Still in production today, it is one of the country's oldest brands and has filled more than 200,000,000 glasses with a traditional Old World Italian Red. Just after harvest in 1963 the family moved across the country to California.
Anthony II entered the family's wine business in 1975 while in his teens and with "a bit of Villa Armando in his blood," he eventually became not only a winemaker and winery owner but also an exporter and consultant. He passed his skills and experience along to the 5th generation who created three separate but complimentary wine companies. Today, Anthony III, Natalie, Paul and Michael share a vision of operating their various wine businesses with an eye toward the 6th generation.
Anthony III is CEO of Scotto Cellars. Paul Scotto is Director of Winemaking for all Scotto Family brands and his own Sera Fina Cellars from Amador County. Natalie Scotto-Woods is COO and Operations Director of Scotto Cellars and Proprietor of J. McClelland Cellars, and Michael Scotto is Production and General Manager Scotto Cellars. Together this fifth generation is continuing to build strong relationships with both trade and consumers while expanding distribution throughout the U.S. and eleven export markets.