Comments on: Master of the Cave Tour: Dave Del Dotto

By: GrapeRadio Bunch

GrapeRadio Bunch — Thu, 14 May 2009 20:57:03 +0000

Bob, gullible though we may be, this video podcast was shot in the OLD Del Dotto location, off Silverado Trail, rather than the new location on Hwy 29.

Eric

By: Bob

Bob — Thu, 14 May 2009 20:37:00 +0000

Hmm.. 150 year old cave…he built that cave 3 years ago. You guys are so gullible.

By: GrapeRadio Bunch

GrapeRadio Bunch — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:42:56 +0000

Kevin, the very fact you could tyoe after a visit with Dave is impressive beyond words.
Jay

By: Kevin B

Kevin B — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 02:29:03 +0000

Sorry about the spelling on that. It is from a Blackberry or after wine tasting at Daves!

By: Kevin B

Kevin B — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 02:11:26 +0000

Wow. I do not know Daves past, but I did meet him at the caves (BOTH). What a day. I probably had the best time I have ever had wine tasting. The wines were also the best I have ever had. I was with a VIP and we tasted barrels that only Dave gets to tast! What a great place. I taking my parents back with me for anothe great day out. All I can say is Wow, all the other places were boring.

By: GrapeRadio Bunch

GrapeRadio Bunch — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 21:03:06 +0000

Rhonda, reading your comment made be laugh. It is a fun tour. One that most would never forget. Thanks for bringing back some memories and sharing yours.

Jay

By: Rhonda

Rhonda — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 20:38:55 +0000

We just got back from the Tour of the Caves at Del Dotto. This was the most impressive tour I have taken. We had Francisco as our guide and he was incredible. We had a large group that was there to have fun and learn about the wine, and Franciso was the man for us!!
He was very personable and”go with the Flow” , which our group required! Thank you Del Dotto and Dave for the beautiful winery and facinating caves of light!!

By: Lee

Lee — Fri, 30 May 2008 14:57:42 +0000

Just returned from my tour of the wine cave and it was fantastic! Tasted from at least 8 barrels and continued my journey for another hour or so with one of the winemakers, Greg, for more outstanding items. Despite the crass remarks from a few, Dave does not profess to be a winemaker, he happens to be the guy fortunate enough to grow and purchase some of the most outstanding fruits in the region and have great winemakers with profound palates with a dash of his input. How he chose to make his living way back when has nothing to do with the present. The caves and tasting rooms are beautiful, very tasteful decor, staff absolutely wonderful. The wine may be a bit pricey, comparable to the limited reserves I buy at Chateau St. Jean and Beringer, but each is a winner, 89pt and up in my book. I’m now a loyal fan and will be stocking my wine room with these treasures, especially with my custom-blended! Hats off to you Dave!

By: Harry Harr

Harry Harr — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 18:56:40 +0000

sorry. I mistyped my email. The above is correct.

By: Harry Harr

Harry Harr — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 18:50:10 +0000

Dave Del Dotto is a great example of a Jehovah’s Witness who made a fortune scamming people with get rich real estate courses. Now he’s scamming folks with his wines.

By: Art

Art — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:13:53 +0000

Del Dotto and wines now, befiore this he was pitching vitamins on infomercials, and before that he was a real estate “guru”. If he was that good at any of the prior, one would think that would still be his primary bread and butter.
Residences of his have been foreclosed on. Does not sound like the type I’d follow into business.

By: GrapeRadio Bunch

GrapeRadio Bunch — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 12:25:51 +0000

You are cynic DCS. I like that. I am not so sure I agree that he had us eating out of his hand. As a matter of fact, I think I pushed back a few times. That being said, I do not argue with your point that we could have been tougher. To be honest, I am not sure I am that sort of guy. Just like wine reviews, I think people can make their own judgments. I do not go in with an agenda.

Jay

By: DCS

DCS — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 23:22:04 +0000

I finally got around to listening to this show yesterday. What a total blowhard. Del Dotto contradicts himself at every turn, one moment talking about how his unoaked wines fermented in clay are the world’s best and the next saying that his super-oaked wines that taste like Tahitian vanilla are the best. Almost everything he said was difficult to swallow.

I’m glad Grape Radio interviews all of these different folks as it gives an unvarnished window into the world of wine which is otherwise hard to get. I believe the vintner’s personality is often reflected in the wine so that’s helpful to us as consumers and appreciators of wine. Unfortunately, he had you guys eating out of his hand. I know you aren’t trying to do investigative journalism, but Grape Radio is established enough now that you could be a little tougher on charlatans like Del Dotto.

By: Jeff Linder

Jeff Linder — Tue, 22 May 2007 21:43:36 +0000

How can anyone take Dave Del Dotto seriously? He reminds me of so many people in the industry in which I work, advertising. Someone with a lot of self-importance on a major ego trip. There wasn’t a hint of humility or introspection. Here’s a guy – or should I say, character – who’s hawking, no flogging, his wares in a crass way I wouldn’t usually connect with high end wine. How many times do we have to hear him tell us his wines are “rich?” I bet he said his wines were “rich” 50 or more times in this podcast. There was not one of his wines that wasn’t “the world’s best” or the “the best Pinot in the world,” or “can’t get this incredible rich, vanilla flavor anywhere else.” After a while all his superlatives ring hollow and you begin to think the man is a fool. Or, worse, thinks we’re fools. What is interesting here is that Grape Radio presents all sorts of personalities in the wine industry. From the carnival barker, insipid hard sell of Del Dotto, to the imperious but fascinating Stephen Tanzer, the pretentious yet knowledgeable Allen Meadows, to the industrious and respectable Marc Perrin. For us in podcast land, we get to look in through an always interesting window.

By: D.R.

D.R. — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 00:54:35 +0000

Thanks for a great show on Del Dotto Vineyards.
Dave Del Dotto is a fabulous salesman – maybe too fabulous?
Take a look at http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1996/10/deldotto.htm.
If you Google search for “Dave Del Dotto”, you will find other evidence of his selling skills.
I look forward to visiting Del Dotto’s winery, but I will be listen to the sales pitch with skepticism. Caveat emptor

By: GrapeRadio Bunch

GrapeRadio Bunch — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 19:45:25 +0000

All I can say is that I want to go back. You just have to LOVE his energy. In addition, the wine is pretty tasty.

Jay

By: Stephanie Weller

Stephanie Weller — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 19:52:09 +0000

This was one of my favorite shows, I can see why people are drawn to this venue it all just seemed lik so much fun I wanted to join in. Next time in Napa I wil make sure I add this place to my list.

By: Tim Elliott

Tim Elliott — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 19:22:16 +0000

Great show. After listening to Dave and his passion for wine, I’m ready to take the tour myself. But I’m now afraid that the waiting list will be too long after this Grape Radio exposure. And No Jay, you didn’t come across as an embarrassment to yourself or Grape Radio. Considering the number of tastings that went on through the show, I think you handled yourself well. It’s Dave who I would have been worried about. “I feel very euphoric right now”. great quote that shows his love for his craft.

Thanks Again

By: razmaspaz

razmaspaz — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 18:05:28 +0000

What a character. I toured Del Dotto last fall (on a recommendation from an older show) and loved it. We didn’t get Dave, we got one of the other tour guides, but we had a great time there. Everyone that went with me said it ws the highlight of our week. I have to go back now just to take the tour with Dave.