Enjoy 3 dozen Malfatti and 3 dozen Ravioli out of Napa's iconic Clemente's + 1 Bottle of Pope Valley 2016 Sangiovese to go with it!

Inside humble Val's Liquors you'll find a taste of Napa history: malfatti. The hand-rolled spinach-and-cheese dumplings smothered in sauce are legendary in Napa.

Tourists to the Napa Valley may visit the exclusive wineries and fine-dining restaurants. But locals love a more humble dish called malfatti. It's a little spinach and cheese dumpling, shaped like a pinky finger, smothered in sauce and packed with local history.

The most famous malfatti in the region is found in the back of Val's Liquor in the town of Napa. That's where, in a large industrial kitchen, you'll find three generations of the Cittoni family at work: Mary Cittoni peeling onions and garlic; Joanne Cittoni Gonzalez answering the phone and greeting customers and her son Joe at the stove. At the center of the scene is the patriarch, Clemente Cittoni, still cooking at age 81.

After moving to Napa from Lake Cuomo, Italy, in the '60s, Cittoni first worked as a dishwasher, then graduated to potato peeler, then apprentice cook.

In the kitchen, Cittoni sautés onions, spinach and a few other ingredients in a sauce pan, forces the mixture through a meat grinder to combine it before adding cheese and eggs. 

Pope Valley 2016 Sangiovese: A vibrant nose of strawberry compote is accented by sweet brioche toast and tarragon. Sangiovese's signature reduction is present in the '16 offering, but it takes a back seat on the palette to the wine's iron core. Well-balanced acidity ties all those earthy elements with the bright, fresh, red-fruit aromatics.

The Pope Valley Winery was founded in 1897 by Ed Haus as Burgundy Winery & Olive Oil Factory. A century later in 1997, the Eakle family purchased the historic winery and gave it a new life as Pope Valley Winery. In 2009 the next generation of Eakles stepped in to continue building and furthering the family's vision for Pope Valley Winery as a fine winemaking establishment. Currently siblings David Eakle, winemaker, and Diana Eakle Hawkins, general manager, are making great strides in bringing Pope Valley Winery to the next level. www.popevalleywinery.com 

Please Note: Clemente's certificate expires April 30, 2020.