Winery: Arietta, Born of a Passion for Music
There’s a reason Arietta’s wines are a fixture on menus up and down the California coast and throughout San Francisco, from Jardiniere to Bar Tartine. Founded by Fritz and Caren Hatton in 1996, this Napa Valley winery has spent two decades entrenching itself in the California culinary scene. But for Arietta, it’s not just about the wine — it’s also about the music. After all, they say, “all great wines must sing.”
The Hattons aren’t just your average oenophiles and vintners. Fritz is a well-known wine auctioneer — perhaps the best known in the country — who helped launch Christie’s wine department in the U.S. He actively contributes his time at charities like the Napa Valley Wine Auction, the United Way, the Make-a-Wish Foundation, and Sonoma County Children’s Charities.
In the early ’90s, Fritz took what he calls a “musical sabbatical” on the West Coast, and it was here that the idea for Arietta was conceived. An amateur classical pianist, he has performed with such well-known musicians and vocalists as Garrick Ohlsson, Emmanuel Ax, and Barbara Bonney. From Fritz’s dual paths — music and wine — Arietta was born, its name a reference to the Arietta movement of Beethoven’s last piano sonata and its label an accompanying musical tribute.
Of course, a brand story with soul is a lovely thing, but if the wine doesn’t live up to the hype, it’s just a pretty label. In the case of Arietta, we can confidently report that their product surpasses their brand in lyrical deliciousness. Winemaker Andy Erickson is largely responsible for this. “One of the most accomplished winemakers of his generation,” according to Wine Spectrum, Erickson has worked with some of Napa Valley’s biggest brands, including Screaming Eagle, Harlan, and Ovid.
For his part, Fritz continues to be a prominent fixture at wine auctions throughout the country. Last year, he auctioneered at Vintage Affair, Silicon Valley’s premier wine auction, for the 27th time. Hosted annually on a private estate, this event raises money for Palo Alto’s Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
