Arietta

The Hattons founded Arietta in 1996 in partnership with winemaker John Kongsgaard and his wife Maggy. Arietta is owned by Fritz and Caren Frutig Hatton. Prior to joining Arietta in 2005, Andy Erickson worked for Harlan Estate as assistant winemaker and for Staglin as winemaker. Erickson assumed complete control of winemaking at Arietta with the 2006 vintage.

The inspiration for Arietta was a 2.3-acre block of Cabernet Franc on the Hudson Ranch in Napa/Carneros. Erickson crafts the wines from blocks in the cooler climates of Napa Valley. In 2007, Arietta leased a 1.7-acre block of clone 337 Cabernet Sauvignon in Coombsville's Meteor Vineyard as the core of the Arietta Cabernet. Erickson crafted the 2005 On The White Keys from Sonoma Mountain hillside Sauvignon Blanc and two Semillon blocks in Hyde Vineyards in Napa Carneros. The wine is barrel fermented and aged for eight months in stainless steel, new oak, and French oak barrels. Its wines include H Block Hudson Vineyards, Merlot Hudson Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon, Quartet, Variation One, and On The White Keys.