Our story
"Blending" Five Generations of Winemaking with Six Decades of Experience and Three Individual Brands
In 2008, the Scotto Family began preparing for the production of a collection of world class wines from Napa Valley dedicated to and named for their long time friend, trusted advisor and iconic California wine industry personality John McClelland. J. McClelland Cellars was launched in celebration of the 10th anniversary of their friendship, John's continuing contribution to Scotto Cellars and to honor his six decades of service to the industry. All fruit would be sourced from select Napa Valley vineyards by Winery Director and Winemaker Paul Scotto and vinified with Winemaker Mark Smith at the Scotto family's newly acquired J. McClelland Cellars winery in the Valley's eastern hills
In 2014 the J. McClelland Cellars team was enhanced with the addition of Mitch Cosentino, the renowned and frequently awarded winemaker who brought many years of Napa Valley knowledge, experience and vineyard contacts to the project. Since its first release in 2015, JMC wines have garnered more than four dozen prestigious awards and 90+ point scores from highly respected critics as well as national and international wine competitions. click here to view a complete list.
In 2013, the Scotto family decided to expand their Napa Valley presence by producing a wine honoring their 50th harvest in California. Although they envisioned 50 Harvests as a singular addition to their portfolio, it was also intended to memorialize the family's winemaking heritage originating on the Island of Ischia just off the Italian coast in 1883. That is when Salvatore Dominic Scotto began the family's five-generation journey producing quality wines to grace the table of eager followers.
In 2017 The Lost Chapters was born representing the culmination of 5th generation Winemaker Paul Scotto's dream. Each year Paul sources and crafts dozens of brands, varietals and blends for the Scotto Family's extensive wine portfolio. In his relentless search for just the right barrel lots to fit the profile of each bottling, Paul occasionally encounters something very special that deserves its own place. While these select and limited lots may enhance a given blend, they would also present themselves far better as a stand-alone that most likely would not be repeated in future vintages.