Vera Trinchero Torres of Sutter Home dies

Napa wine pioneer and owner of the Sutter Home Winery, Vera Trinchero Torres, has passed away at the age of 76.

Vera Trinchero (centre) wither brothers Bob (left) and Roger (right)

Born in New York to Mario and Mary Trinchero in 1948, the family purchased the Sutter Home Winery and moved to St. Helena, California when Vera was 10 years old.

Vera joined the family business after a career as a legal secretary and held key roles at Sutter Home Winery including company secretary.

Together with her brothers, Bob and Roger, Vera worked to build Sutter Home Winery into one of the top-selling premium varietal wine brands in the US.

“She will be dearly missed by all of us. She was one of a kind,” said her brother, Roger Trinchero, in a statement.

Her son, Bob Torres, added: “Our mother’s generosity to the community was legendary, as a supporter of many causes benefiting people young and old.”

“She will be remembered for her philanthropy and for the way she lived life to the fullest – working, bringing up a family, and even dancing at winery and charitable events with her lifelong best friend, Mary Scheel.”

As a breast cancer survivor and owner of the family-run business, Vera helped raise more than US$1 million (£590,000) towards the fight against breast cancer through the Sutter Home program.

In recognition of her philanthropic efforts and service to the community, Vera was named Woman of the Year for the 2nd District of the California State Senate in 1996, and St. Helena Citizen of the Year in 1999.

Vera is survived by her sons Tony and Bob Torres, her brothers Bob and Roger Trinchero and her four grandchildren Laina, Michael, Mathew, and Julia.