An 11-acre Napa parcel that was once owned by General Mariano Vallejo — and many years later golf pro Johnny Miller — is now home to Dominari Winery. 

North Napa drivers can’t miss the large brown building that has risen near the corner of Trancas Street and Big Ranch Road. Construction on Dominari’s new 23,000-square-foot winery and custom-crush facility began in January.

 Co-owner Marie Schutz said her husband, Jurgen, started Dominari in 1998. The winery, previously located at a south Napa industrial park, had outgrown its space. “We needed something larger,” Schutz said.

Besides a new facility, Dominari also has new partners — Michael and MarieAnn Perri. Michael Perri is retired from the banking industry and MarieAnn Perri is a niece of Al Scoma, one the founders of Scoma’s Restaurant in San Francisco. Both couples have lived in Napa Valley for many years — the Schutz’s on Altas Peak and the Perri’s on Soda Canyon Road. 

After hearing from friends that Miller was willing to sell his parcel on Trancas, a deal was made in May 2008. “We were lucky to get this property,” said Schutz.

Moving from south Napa to Trancas Street represents a “major investment” for the partners, said Michael Perri. “This is a step up.” 

“With the additional space afforded by our new, state-of–the-art facility, we can offer the wine community more custom crush and private label opportunities,”  Marie Schutz said.

Dominari’s capacity is 100,000 gallons. In addition to producing its own wines, Dominari crafts wine for Elements of Sonoma, Grasso Vineyard, Musante Family Vineyards, Ochoa Vineyards, P B Hein Vineyards, Popie, Sylk Cellars, Mt. Veeder Magic Vineyards and Madison Rose.

“It’s exciting,” Marie Schutz said. “We’re looking forward to our grand opening and sharing our wines.”

Conference space for meetings or other gatherings will be available, as well as the tasting room and event space, Schutz said. “We’d like to open our doors to the community,” she said.

The property is found on the border of city and county limits and is one of the few working wineries found so close to the city center. The Dominari building features an agricultural barn façade in keeping with country landscape. “It blends in the with the scene,” Schutz said. Inside the fixtures and furnishings are described as “urban Italian with a modern accent,” Perri said. Mahogany doors, trellises with wisteria, grassy lawns, a fountain and vineyards will accent the exterior.

Open seven days a week by appointment only, Dominari should be ready to start pouring on Trancas Street by June, the owners said.