HERITAGE
“OUR FAMILY’S HERITAGE SPANS SEVEN GENERATIONS, DEEPLY ROOTED IN THE RICH SOILS OF THE NAPA VALLEY SINCE 1888.”
For over 136 years, our family has been an integral part of Napa Valley’s early history. As farmers, builders, servicemen, and contributors to the wine industry, we take great pride in our deep roots and the hardworking legacy passed down from our Italian-speaking ancestors, who emigrated here in search of a better life. Andrew Cotti Wines stand as a testament to our family’s enduring heritage in the Napa Valley.
In contrast, many of today’s wineries which have emerged in the past few decades, were started by tech and corporate wealth, often lacking genuine ties to the valley. While the industry has evolved, Andrew Cotti Wines honors the vision of Carolina Cotti—a symbol of perseverance and dedication to securing a future for generations to come.
JOURNEY TO AMERICA
Carolina Cotti was born on June 22, 1838 in the village of Prato, located in the Canton of Ticino, Switzerland, near the Italian border. On September 11, 1859, she married Francesco Nichelini and settled in the small village of Verscio, home to fewer than 350 Italian speaking inhabitants.
In 1887, the couple, along with their 21-year-old daughter, Felicita Albina Nichelini, her husband, Cesar Leoni, and their four-year-old daughter, Elvezia (who later changed her name to Elva after arriving in America), embarked on a journey to the New World aboard the La Gascogne, departing from the port of Le Havre, France.
On January 18, 1888, the family arrived in New York as immigrants, driven by dreams of a better future. They soon traveled westward to California settling in Calistoga, nestled in the Napa Valley.
LIFE IN CALISTOGA
Cesar Leoni became a well respected farmer in the upper valley, engaging in viticulture at the Nichelini Winery, founded in Pope Valley in 1890, as well as nearby vineyards throughout Chiles Valley, Calistoga, and the Yountville appellations. When Elva turned 26 years old, she married Matt Jacksha (later changed to Jackson), an Austrian immigrant and skilled builder responsible for many of Calistoga’s homes that still stand today. The couple had two children, Agnes and Fred “Andrew” Jackson. Fred later owned and operated Fred Jackson’s Union Garage in the 1940’s and 1950’s at 1020 Foothill Blvd., a site now occupied by Tank Garage Winery. Fred’s wife, June, was a lifelong Calistoga resident who worked at her mother’s well-known establishment, Helen’s Café, a beloved gathering place across from Hwy 29 in the heart of the close-knit Calistoga community.
Andrew was the middle name of Fred Jackson, the firstborn of the Cotti family on American soil. He inherited a strong work ethic and deep family values from his immigrant parents; principles that continue to be passed down through our family generations to this day.
TODAY
Carolina Cotti’s great-great-great-grandsons, Jason and Jonathan Hooten, began their careers in the adult beverage industry at a young age. Immersed in the world of beer, wine, and spirits from the outset, they now bring over 50 years of combined expertise to their craft. Their label, ANDREW COTTI, is a tribute to their heritage—a small-production brand that embodies deep family ties, a celebration of Napa Valley’s legacy, and an unwavering commitment to quality.