On a foggy morning in early 1947......a young man named Joseph Vallerga hauled a building to the corner of First and Juarez streets, near the Silverado Trail – this was the first Vallerga’s Market in Napa Valley. For eight years, Joe built a reputation on his great customer service and superior products. In 1955, he built a new store behind the existing one, hauling away that first store to make room for a parking lot. This new store was four times larger. In 1960, Joseph Vallerga expanded service to the Redwood Plaza location, and then in 1964, opened the River Park Plaza. Wine selection at Vallerga’s Market was small, but grew over the years, compelling Vallerga to open a chain of corner wine and spirit shops called Val’s. The building on the original 1947 store site remained a Vallerga’s Market until 1983. It then became the distribution center for all of Joseph Vallerga’s stores called JV Wine & Spirits. A decision was made to open the distribution center to the public. With a bare bones look and hundreds of stacked boxes on the warehouse floor (there was no shelving), JV Wine and Spirits was the first of its kind. The town of Napa embraced this new concept, as they had all of the Vallerga's stores. JV Wine & Spirits was successful from the very first day. Through the years, Napa changed. Grape vineyards replaced fruit orchards and farmers started calling themselves California winemakers. With these Napa Valley changes, JV needed a new direction, one more focused on local wine production and artisan producers. JV also wanted to better serve the community of wine-knowledgeable locals, as well as the influx of tourists coming to the Napa Valley. In the late 1990's, the need for excellent wine selection, education, product knowledge, and customer service guided JV to change from a box shop to a Wine and Spirits shop. About that same time, Jon V. Sévigny moved to Napa Valley from Vancouver, British Columbia. Jon approached the store and offered to give the staff some wine courses. About three weeks into the program, Jon knew the way for staff to learn faster was by example. He started working the floor, stayed through the Christmas season and just never left. Jon V. Sévigny is JV's Head Sommelier. Jon's fresh vision emphasized wine education, and the store advanced slowly. A couple of years later, Meryll Cawn came aboard as store manager, and as JV’s sommelier, with undoubtedly one of the best palates in the industry. An evolution was set in motion as Jon and Meryll divided duties that encompassed wine sales for JV & Vallerga's, Internet development, product selection and promotion. In a little over two years, Meryll and Jon were able to exact dramatic changes upon the store including: an updated and expanded import wines section, a boutique wine cellar with almost 1000 small production wines, as well as a staff education program. With sommelier’s Jon and Meryll, JV's catalog shifted from just everyday wines to exclusive, different, and ahead-of-the-trends varieties. In late 2003, they continued improvements with the addition of a permanent Tasting Room in the wine cellar, a showcase for artisan producers who do not offer their wines for tasting anywhere else in California. The bar features a rotating menu of 40 wines including import wines and dessert wines. 2007 brought new changes with a move to a new location. Our long time home at 426 First Street was sold to the soon to be built Ritz Carlton Hotel and JV moved across the street to 301 First Street. The move brought a new look and direction to JV. We expanded our beer selection to 500 beers, designed one of the largest wine tasting rooms in Napa and are now offering bread, dairy, cold meats, salads and just about everything you need to make a picnic lunch! Always at the forefront offering the best in Napa Valley wine services, Jon and Meryll now provide Internet access for your education and your wine wine buying pleasure. |
