By Nora Heston Tarte
At Barsetti Vineyards, the theme is family. Located in Galt, the very location plays into the Barsetti family history. It is, after all, where Gottardo Barsetti, the grandfather of vineyard owner Janis Barsetti Gray and an immigrant from Switzerland, fulfilled his dream of owning and farming land in 1912.
Janis plays tribute to her deep family roots every chance she gets. The Barsetti red blend—dubbed Old Town Red—is outfitted with a label depicting old town Galt in the late 1800s. “It is my tribute to Galt,” Janis says. Likewise, the vineyard’s award winning, port-style dessert wine, Dolce Maria, is named for Janis’ grandmother, Maria Barsetti. She has even employed her niece, Allison Barsetti, as the tasting room manager. It is truly a family affair.
“I have a tremendous love for my business and my community and the history of Galt,” Janis says. “I am so proud to have my tasting room in old town Galt—an area that I remember as a child.”
Today, patrons are part of the family, too. “Someone said our tasting room is like the former television show Cheers where everyone knows everyone’s name,” Janis shares.
Frequent events draw crowds to the tasting room, which opened in December 2014 (though the vineyard began operating in 1996 and the winery in 2001). This year, Barsetti began hosting live music on Saturdays in addition to Galt’s Food Truck Mania, which takes place the first Saturday of each month on 4th Street (outside of the tasting room). It is there Wine Down Fridays (with live music and appetizers) draws the businesses’ regulars. “This has turned into an evening of people relaxing after work and having a great time with friends,” Janis says of the weekly event.
A big part of Janis’ mission with Barsetti is giving back to the community she grew up in by participating in many non-profit events each year. Next up is the Lodi Wine & Food Festival on April 2 at the Ole Mettler Grape Pavilion at the Grape Festival Grounds in Lodi where Barsetti wine will be poured.
On warm, summer days, customers can seek refuge on the outside patio where umbrellas offer shade for patrons and their pooches. When it cools off, heaters kick on so there’s no need to budge. It’s the perfect place to sip glasses of Barsetti vino, including two new releases—the 2013 Zinfandel and 2014 Verdelho—which both received silver medals at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.
The granddaughter of Gottardo Barsetti is making more than just her ancestors proud. She says she knows her late husband—who pushed her to open the tasting room—would be pleased with the activities and all of the people who come to enjoy it. “My tasting room would not have existed if my late husband, Richard, had not been my driving force and encouraged me to follow my dream of have my business in Galt. I am glad he was able to see the tasting room through completion and operation for a few months,” Janis says.
Stop in:
Barsetti Vineyards Tasting Room
400 4th St., Ste. 150, Old Town Galt
(209) 747-3861
BarsettiVineyards.com