Summer in Napa is a show — bright, busy, and buzzing with people.
But autumn? Autumn feels like a backstage pass. We walked through vineyards with harvested vines, wandered quiet tasting rooms, watched fermentation tanks pulse in the cellar, and had time to talk with the people behind the bottles. It wasn’t just peaceful. It was personal.
It all started in Seoul in 2022, at a boutique wine shop called Red Tongue. That’s where we first stumbled upon Arietta — a bottle of “On The White Keys” that the manager highly recommended, calling it a beautiful white blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon in the Bordeaux style, crafted by a boutique Napa winery. Bright, elegant, and unforgettable — it reminded me of a piano sonata — precise, elegant, and quietly powerful.
A few months later, we were invited to an event by the manager of Red Tongue, where we struck up a conversation with the export manager of Spottswoode during her visit to Korea. That connection turned into a friendship, and that friendship opened doors.
Thanks to her introductions, our Napa trip transformed from casual tastings into private visits — including Arietta. That’s how we got to explore Arietta’s beautifully crafted wines, each with its own voice. That’s how Caren, Fritz and Sara came into our orbit.
Table of Contents
1. Arietta – A Brief Introduction
Arietta was founded by Fritz and Caren Hatton in 1996, inspired by a shared love of classical music and fine wine. The name “Arietta” comes from Beethoven’s final piano sonata, and that musical influence threads through every aspect of the winery — from the labels to the structure and harmony of the blends themselves.
Rather than owning vast vineyards, Arietta sources fruit from some of the most respected sites in Napa, most notably the legendary Hudson Vineyard. Their production is limited, their philosophy deliberate, and the wines? Thoughtful, expressive, and built to age.
Much of that expression comes from winemaker Andy Erickson, whose precision and artistry help define Arietta’s voice. A former winemaker for Screaming Eagle and other Napa icons, Erickson brings a rare balance of technical mastery and lyrical nuance. You can taste it in the vivid structure of H Block, or the layered clarity of On The White Keys — wines that don’t just impress, but resonate. For more on Andy Erickson’s winemaking style, you might enjoy my posts on two of his other projects: Favia LÍNEA 2016 and Discover Leviathan 2018 — both offer a deeper look into his signature balance of structure and soul.
2. Arietta Winery
Arietta’s tasting isn’t held at a traditional winery building — instead, it takes place right next to Hudson Ranch & Vineyards, in the southern part of Napa Valley, near Carneros. The cool climate influenced by marine breezes and the rolling hills create a peaceful, postcard-perfect setting. Mornings are blanketed in soft fog, giving way to clear skies — a rhythm that mirrors the elegance of the wines.
The first impression was quiet sophistication. The setting felt more like a private retreat than a commercial space. A well-tended garden, tasteful architecture, and the calm of the surrounding vineyards set the tone before the first glass was even poured.
We were greeted by Sara Nicole Hitchcock, Director of Hospitality and Direct Sales, who does seemingly everything with effortless warmth and energy.
A large, mounted map of the Hudson Vineyard hung on the wall.
Sara was dressed in a long, cape-like white coat and elegant boots — a look that felt both professional and stylish, almost like she had stepped out of an editorial in Wine & Spirits, walked over and pointed out the H Block. She began to tell its story — how the soil, elevation, and microclimate give rise to one of Arietta’s most iconic wines. Her tone was measured, but you could feel the reverence in her voice.
We were still in the main lobby space — elegant, quiet, and filled with late-autumn light. After the map session, Sara invited us to follow her through the garden path to a separate wing of the building, where the tasting room awaited.
The view outside was just as stunning — golden rows of vines, each turning from green to amber to burnt orange. Fall in Napa is a visual sonata: sunlit fog in the morning, crisp air by noon, and vineyard landscapes painted in every autumn hue imaginable.
3. The Wines: Full Line up of Arietta
We settled into the tasting room — cozy, sun-drenched, and quietly elegant. As the wines began to flow and the conversation deepened, Sara’s tone grew more animated, her cheeks gently flushed with warmth.
We tasted many wines that day — perhaps more than we expected. Here’s a quick overview of the eight wines we tasted at Arietta:
(1) Arietta Quartet : A red blend composed of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. Approachable, harmonious, and expressive of Napa’s classic varietals. Notes of blackberry, dark cherry, baking spice, and a touch of graphite.
(2) Arietta Merlot: 100% Merlot, sourced from Hudson Vineyard. Plush and polished with notes of plum, cocoa, and gentle earth. Velvety mouthfeel with hints of vanilla and cedar.
(3) Arietta Cabernet Sauvignon: Bold and structured, made from Coombsville or Hudson fruit. Rich dark fruit, graphite, and firm tannins. Blackcurrant, espresso, and tobacco on a long, grippy finish.
(4) Arietta H Block: A co-fermented blend of 56% Cabernet Franc and 44% Merlot from a specific Hudson Vineyard block. Intense, floral, and finessed. Lifted aromatics of violets and herbs, with depth and minerality.
(5) Arietta Variation One : A unique and daring blend of Syrah and Merlot. Spicy, textural, and full of personality. Dark berries, white pepper, and a touch of smoked meat.
(6) Rosie’s Rosé : A dry rosé made in limited quantities. Bright, delicate, and floral with a charming family backstory. Crisp strawberry, rose petal, and citrus zest.
(7) Nestweaver Pinot Noir: A lighter, elegant expression of Pinot Noir under Arietta’s sister label. Likely from Sonoma Coast or Carneros. Red cherry, cranberry, and subtle forest floor notes.
(8) Arietta 88 Keys: A flagship Cabernet Sauvignon, powerful and age-worthy, named after the keys of a piano. Deep, dark, and commanding. Concentrated cassis, mocha, and savory spice with bold tannins.
4. The Wines: Our Standout Trio
At one point, she paused, smiled, and said with a soft laugh, “Would you mind if I take this off? It’s getting a little warm.”She slipped off her white coat. Underneath was a light dress patterned with delicate leaves — a quiet shift that made the experience feel suddenly more personal, more relaxed. Like we’d been welcomed not just as guests, but as friends — fellow lovers of wine, sharing stories over a table.
(1) H Block & On The White Keys – Bordeaux, Reimagined
H Block and On The White Keys aren’t just exceptional wines — they represent Arietta’s dialogue with Bordeaux.
❶ H Block channels the Right Bank: a co-fermented blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot from Hudson Vineyard, it evokes the elegance of Saint-Émilion with Napa’s confident depth. Bright aromatics, silky tannins, and a sense of place that lingers. It was structured, yet graceful. The kind of wine that doesn’t shout, but commands attention. Winemaker Andy Erickson described it best: “As if struck by lightning — vivid, full-spectrum.”
❷ On The White Keys reflects the Left Bank: a white wine composition of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, inspired by the white keys of a piano and the whites of Graves. It’s sharp yet layered, mineral yet textured — the kind of white that ages with grace. Bright and crystalline, with mineral notes and surprising depth. Inspired by Beethoven’s piano, and it shows — pure, deliberate, full of rhythm. Among all the wines, this one remains my favorite. There’s a clarity and confidence in it that feels both modern and timeless. It’s the wine that made me fall in love with Arietta in the first place. Together, they frame Arietta’s music-inspired vision through a distinctly French lens, reimagined in Napa terroir.
(2) Rosie’s Rosé – A Family Memory in a Bottle
Made in tiny quantities and named after the family’s dog, this dry rosé felt like a love letter. Pale, floral, and joyful. A wine you sip on a late afternoon and remember for years. As Sara poured it, she shared the story: Caren had wanted to make a rosé, but Fritz initially said no. Eventually, he agreed – mimicking him with a laugh, Sara recounted his condition: “FINE, only if it’s absolutely dry.” And so it was.
The label features a drawing of Rosie, made by their daughter when she was little. In that moment, weweren’t just tasting a wine. We were being let into a family memory.
And what made Rosie’s Rosé especially touching for us was the label — a sweet childhood drawing of the family’s dog, Rosie. Looking at it, we couldn’t help but think of our own dog, Winnie. In that moment, it wasn’t just a bottle. It was a shared memory — theirs and ours.
5. Arietta Patraon’s Circle : Where the Tasting Continues
We left Arietta feeling like more than visitors. Between the map, the music, the wine, and Sara’s stories, we felt invited in — like we’d been shown something quietly beautiful and trusted to carry it with us. We joined their Patron’s Circle not just for the benefits, but because it felt right — like becoming part of a conversation we didn’t want to leave. And that’s what great wine does. It doesn’t just taste good. It connects. It lingers. It becomes part of your story.
If you ever find yourself holding a bottle of Arietta and feeling something more — a spark, a memory, a sense of place — you might understand why we joined. And if you’re curious, we’d gently recommend taking a look.