Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Site Index/Map

Wine Country Wine Label Poster-Maps

Site Index/Map

http://twccposters.blogspot.com/2005/12/napa-valley-wine-label-poster-maps.html Narrative about the production of the Series ‘A’ Poster-map

http://twccposters.blogspot.com/2007/08/now-to-displayed-wineries-past-and.html The labels displayed on Series ‘A’ - Part 1 - American Canyon,
Carneros, Napa, Yountville, Oakville, Sage Caynon/Chiles/Pope/Lake
Berryessa , Rutherford

http://twccposters.blogspot.com/2007/08/milat-httpwww.html The labels displayed on Series ‘A’ - Part 2 - Rutherford, Calistoga, Deer
Park, Angwin

http://twccposters.blogspot.com/2006/12/series-b-wine-label-poster-map.html The labels displayed on Series ‘B’

Posted by The wine Country Club at 8:54 AM 0 comments Links to this post

Monday, August 27, 2007

Napa Valley Wine Label Poster-Map Series 'A'

This poster was produced and released in 1986 making it 21 years old. There are 85 labels displayed of which 10 went out of business/ceased operations and 28 changed ownership. Thus, about 45% of the original labels are no longer available except via our poster-map.
You can skip to the postings on these wineries of series 'A' by clicking on the following URLs:

Series 'A' Wine Label Poster-map
Wineries from South Napa through Rutherford
Wineries north of Rutherford
The Wineries of Series 'B' Poster-map Past and present

Our founder, John Olney, provided us with following story about how this poster-map came about. You can skip this narrative and go straight to the winery write-ups by clicking here>> Wineries from South Napa through Rutherford


“In 1985, I came to Napa, California from Honolulu, Hawaii, to finalize my investi-gation into the profitability of converting Hawaiian sugarcane bagasse (the fibrous material remaining after the extraction of sugar) into a quality cattle feed. We were working with Parker Ranch on the Big Island of Hawaii. I needed to conduct discussions and trials at SRI, Menlo Park to see if some experimental equipment they were evaluating for coal processing into pellet form. I stayed at my father’s house in Napa and commuted to Menlo Park when tests were being conducted.

Well, my partner in Hawaii and I ran out of money just as SRI was preparing their final report which indicated that my partner’s proprietary process, although converting the bagasse into a quality feed, was not economically feasible due to the high costs of corrosion to the processing equipment. So there I was no more money and the project hopelessly flawed. I now had to find work to survive in California.

I was watching the Napa paper for work opportunities where I noted an adver-tisement for a salesman for a new project to collect winery labels which would be displayed on a poster containing a map of Napa Valley. I contacted him and agreed to discuss the project with the gentlemen who conceptualized the poster-map. We met at a restaurant in Vacaville and after a couple of hours I was on-board to solicit the wine labels. He told me I would collect the 100 labels, and he would lay them out, photograph and print the product. I would then be visiting the displayed wineries to negotiate sale of the posters though the winery tasting rooms and would receive a very good commission.

I still needed to find work that would pay me while I did the poster-map label collection during my off hours. I found a job in the Pro Shop at Chimney Rock Golf Course, owned by the name owners of Chimney Rock Winery located along Silverado Trail half way between napa and Yountville.

All was going well from my standpoint in that I had visited about 100 wine producers and got about 75 of them to agree to let us display their label. I had spent about a two months, at no pay when the developer called me and told me that because he was going through divorce he had to cancel the entire project!! Well, these was devastating news as I had a heavy commitment and vested time to the project.

Needless to say, I never heard from him again: his phone was disconnected and my letters went unanswered. What do I do now?

After a month of nothing I decided to go ahead and complete the project on my own but I would credit him with being the concept part of the project. I had no idea what to do next as I had never attempted such a project before. So I started stumbling around at photographer and printer offices getting advice. Meanwhile I continued to collect labels until I had accumulated 85 of them. This number would, by my calculations, fit nicely for a poster measuring 24” X 36” with a border and text.

Next I started the raw layout process. I purchased two black Styrofoam boards and laid them on side by side to create a working platform. I hung them on the wall in my dad’s garage. Then I began laying out labels starting in the upper left-hand corner. The problem was figuring out a layout that didn’t have hot white-out spots because of locating white and tan labels together or dark spots by laying colored labels adjacent to each other. So I’d spend a few hours switching labels around then stand back about 50 feet and try to see hot and dark spots then move back in and switch labels around again. In other words, it was a big jigsaw puzzle requiring iterative placement and replacement moves shuffling labels around to find a pleasing montage. Meanwhile, I had to be aware of the center portion of the layout so I could draw the map of Napa Valley.

Once I was satisfied with the label layout, drawn the map and annotated the streets, I was ready to take it to the photographer I selected in San Francisco. I needed a 10” X 10” transparency for the printer to work with and nobody could do that in Napa in 1985. Here is where there was a problem In order to transport the very large art layout, I had to separate the two boards. I photographed the attached boards, removed the labels that crossed over the seam between two boards, transported the whole thing to the City and reassembled it at the photographers’ lab using the photo’s so I could place the removed labels back in their original positions. Then the photographer would not allow me to be around when he positioned the lighting and conducted the photography. What I did not realize until well after the poster-map was printed and varnished was that thin raised gold lettering would present a problem as you can see by examining the “Artisan” label where the lettering washed out.

Now I had the copies of the four-color separations and I informed the participating wine producers that I was going to print and I offered them the opportunity to sign-up for copies at wholesale prices. Out of nowhere one and only one winery suddenly demanded that I show them the four-color separations for them to approve before they would let me use label. Wow! I was taken back by this move. I had a contract with all the wine producers to use their label and that contract did not give them approval rights on the finished product. I almost balked at this demand but then thought better, since this wine producer a major force in the Napa Valley wine industry and if I got mad at me, he could exert a wrath from which I would not be able to recover and expect to do business with the other wine producers. So I wasted a couple days of taking the proofs to him and getting his approval before I could let the printer make the 5,000 copy run.

Once I had the packages of poster-maps, I started the marketing process, and boy, did I learn a lot in a short amount of time about how critical people could become. I quickly became immune, brushed off the few negatives and made some good sales. As an example, Napa Valley Bank bought copies to use as a promo-ptional tool to gain new accounts. Then the Cannery and an art shop in San Francisco contracted with me. Soon winery retail rooms carried the poster-map and others came on board. I was off and running. I even began thinking about a second poster-map.

Incidentally, the gentleman who originally contacted me to work for him on this concept? I never heard from him again to this date.”

Click here >> to return to the beginning of this summary of Series 'A' wine producers.



Other topics of interest

Posted by The wine Country Club at 8:00 AM 0 comments Links to this post

Now to the displayed wineries past and present - Part 1

You can skip to the postings on these wineries of Series 'A' and 'B' by clicking on the following URLs:

Series 'A' Wine Label Poster-map The story on how it was developed

Wineries from South Napa through Rutherford About Brono Wine Co. and the labels up to Rutherford.

Wineries north of Rutherford

The Wineries of Series 'B' Poster-map Past and present

Perhaps one of the most interesting observations about this poster-map are the wine labels that Bronco Wine Company purchased rights to. Our founder and the creator of this poster, John Olney, offers the following comments:


"Bronco Wine Company represents the sons and cousins whose father's started Franzia Brothers winery. Franzia was sold to Coca Cola but now the name is owned by The Wine Group which sells the wine in a plastic pouch surrounded by a cardboard box. (It is interesting to observe that the first commercial wines made in Napa were transported in pouches. Guess we have recycled our history once again!)

Bronco is #4 on the Wine Business News 2006 “Largest Wineries List.” After Franzia Brothers was sold to Coca Cola the Franzia Brothers began withdrawing from day to day operations. The sons and cousins decided they still wanted to be in the business so they started their own company and they grew and grew. Fred Franzia is the marketing whiz of the partners. He saw opportunity in Napa Valley particularly when he could buy an existing label and put wine in the bottle, even if it wasn’t from grapes of Napa Valley! Staring in the mid 1980’s, he ended buying six Napa Valley labels from large corporate wineries , small bankrupt wine producers and even the wife of a winery who won the rights ton the label in a divorce case settlement. Little did anybody realize what this divorcee’s label - Charles Shaw - would do to the American, and in particular, the Napa Valley wine world.

The marketing genius of Fred Franzia burst into the forefront of the American wine consumer. All he did was fill the bottle with inexpensive but good tasting wine negotiate an exclusive outlet for the wines, “Trader Joe’s” and they sold it in California for a mere $1.99 per bottle. That’s not a misprint: $1.99 a bottle! It quickly got the nickname “Two-Buck Chuck,” and a phenomenon was born!!

Franzia also purchased the former Quail Ridge, Domaine Napa and Rutherford Vintners labels. He didn’t immediately produce a wine under these labels but he owned them and plans were underway. Finally, Franzia purchased two other labels: Napa Creek and Napa Ridge. He was selling 100’s of thousands of cases of “Two-Buck Chuck” and all knew that he would be introducing wines under the Napa Creek and Napa Ridge labels, yet not a drop of Napa Valley juice would be in these wines.

Napa wine producers were in an uproar. How could anybody do such a dastardly thing to the premium name of Napa Valley wines? Something had to be done to stop Fred Franzia. The fight was on and Bronco Wine Company put on a great battle but the courts finally said no - if it doesn’t contain Napa Valley grape juice, Bronco could not use the label. It was not a short battle: indeed, it took years of courtroom brawling before the Sate Supreme Court finally confirmed lower court rulings.

But Fred Franzia did not fade away. He came out with a new label under which he offered Napa Valley wine. He called the wine “Napa River.” Now, if you know anything about our lovely little stream, you know that it isn’t the most pristine of waters. In fact there is evidence of significant pollution in this creek called a river. Did Fred intend to send a message to his foes? Hmmmmmm!"


NOW TO THE WINERIES, PAST AND PRESENT

We have listed the poster-map location number (ML=XX) in the descriptions. We have included current information by way of providing you access to the appellation advocacy groups that represent this area. The following are generally applicable to a large number of the Napa Valley wine producers:
Family Wine Makers of California:http://www.familywinemakers.org/
Napa Valley Vintners:http://www.napavintners.com/
Silverado Trail Association:http://www.silveradotrail.com/



Napa/American Canyon/Carneros (18)

We have included current information by way of providing you access to the appellation advocacy groups that represent this area.
Carneros District:http://www.carneros.com/
Atlas Peak District:http://www.atlaspeakappellation.com/
Stags leap District:http://www.stagsleapdistrict.com/v1/

Carneros
Acacia: ( http://www.acaciavineyard.com/en-us/flash.htm ) Located on the Napa County portion of the Carneros AVA, this winery was owned by the Chalone group which was purchased by Diageo Chateau & Estate Wine Co. http://www.diageo.com/en-row/homepage.htm Diageo is a merger of Grand Met and Guinnes, each of which were giants in their own right. ML=1 Diageo is #8 on the Wine Business News (WBN) 2006 “Largest Wineries List.”

Bouchaine: ( http://www.bouchaine.com/ ) (pre-Prohibition site): Owned by Gerret Van S. Copeland of Delaware, heir to the Du Pont family fortune. ML=8 From the Bouchaine Web site:


“Bouchaine Vineyards inhabits the oldest continually operated winery in the Carneros wine region. The site was first planted to vines and orchards inthe mid-1800s by pioneer Boon Fly. In 1927, before the end of Prohibition, the
property was purchased by Italian immigrant, Johnny Garetto. After the Repeal he
operated perhaps the first winery with a tasting room in the region.

Garetto shipped his wine to San Francisco and elsewhere from Buchli
Station, a historic railway station located at the end of the road of the same
name and the address of the Bouchaine property.

Garetto sold the ranchto Beringer Brothers in 1951. Beringer used the winemaking facility for the nextthirty years making upgrades along the way. In 1981 Gerret and Tatiana Copeland,residents of Wilmington Delaware and long time admirers of the wines ofBurgundy, purchased the facility from Beringer and established Bouchaine
Vineyards. A massive renovation was completed in 1995 updating the winemaking facility with new technology and refurbishing the entire facility in a rustic style that garnered numerous awards from historic and architectural organizations.”

Our founder and the creator of this poster-map,John Olney, wrote the following article on this winery site:


THE STORY OF BOUCHAINE WINERY

PRELIMINARY
DRAFT - HISTORY IN DEVELOPMENT
Copyright by John M. Olney, March 11, 2005.
All rights reserved.

Bouchaine Vineyards

Progression of
ownership
Boone (a.k.a. Boon) Fly
Johnny Garetto
Beringer Brothers
Gerret Copeland, et al


This property lies within the region known as the Spanish name “Carneros”, which translates to “sheep” in English. It is one of a few appellations, which cross county lines as it contains wineries located in both Napa and Sonoma Counties.

The first owner to grow grapes on this land was a man named Boon (a.k.a. Boone) Fly. Although my research to date has revealed little about the individual, he was apparently a man of some significance in the region as sites named after him such as “Fly’s Landing” in the marshlands along the Napa River approaching San Pablo bay. From what I can gather, he was primarily a general farmer on property he purchased in the early to mid 1850s. He grew a limited number of vineyard acres.

Another man who became well known in Napa County worked on the Fly farm. Theron H. Ink was born in New York in 1831. In 1852, he heard about the land and prospects of the newly opened state of California from friends he made while he was a schoolteacher. With these friends he completed the journey by wagon train arriving in the Sacramento-Stockton area. He tried his hand at gold digging and was somewhat successful in the town of Colma: town in which the sawmill worker, John Marshall found the first gold on John Sutter’s property in 1848. In fact, Ink’s claim was almost on top of the stream area where Marshall made his find. Ink was able to earn up to about $200 per day working his claim. When it dried up, he moved on to American Flat, along the American River. Here, he hired on with a company using flume technology in attempt to extract gold. It bellied up and Ink and expended most his savings in hope of riches.

He then moved to Napa Valley in 1853 and hired on at Jonathan Hungerford’s farm who lived off Sonoma road. He left there and went to work for Boone (a.k.a. Boon) Fly plowing fields hauling wood and threshing. In 1854, Ink and a man named Reese Smith rented Fly’s place. Ink and Reese planted and cultivated 200 acres of wheat. Unfortunately they lost all but a few acres to a wheat disease. (Why Ink rented it out is not explained. I am still seeking an answer in my research work).

Ink is next found working land on property owned by one T. O. Larkin. Ink had been informed that the property was Government land but he learned that it was not. He was forced to buy the 240-acres of land that required him to incur heavy debt financing. He lived and farmed the land until 1860. San Francisco was his principal market that he delivered to by boat. In 1861, he sold his interests and moved to Marin County. (See my expanded research on Mr. Ink and his return to Napa Valley in another chapter of my stories.)

The next time I read about Boone (a.k.a. Boone) Fly, it is on the website "pjwines.com” where the write-up indicates that Fly was growing grapes and fruit trees on his property in the late 1880s. (I am still attempting to collaborate this statement).

From the Bouchaine website, I find that about 1900,Southern Pacific railway built a station near Fly’s property, which was called the “Bulchi Station.” This still requires research to confirm, but I’m pretty sure that this done near or on the land of John M. Buchle (a.k.a. Bulchi). He was born in Switzerland, in 1843 and migrated to California in 1870. In 1882, he purchased his Carneros region ranch where he maintained cows, six acres of vineyard and a small winery where he produce wine from his own grapes.

One reference, “carneros.org/history,” records a Johnny Garetto as having built a winery on his place: the former Fly property, in 1899. However, the following extraction from the Bouchaine website seems to indicate that Fly still owned the property: “Around the turn of the century the Southern Pacific Railroad erected Buchli Station in the lower part of Napa Valley to accommodate all the commerce going in and out of this agricultural paradise. Livestock fruit grains wines (including Garetto’s wines) and people all departed from Buchli Station for adventures around the globe.”

I contacted the Carneros Quality Alliance and by e-mail received a reply that indicated Garetto purchased the Fly property in 1927 and began construction of a winery shortly thereafter. The www.pjwine.com/ Web site indicating that the date was 1929 and that Garetto was an “Italian home winemaker.” Then I found a reference that alleged Johnny Garetto might have been “bootlegging" wine during the years of Prohibition. The Carneros Quality Alliance e-mail said the following: “John Garetto built the first winery building on the property before Prohibition but it was the only one in Carneros that survived Prohibition.” Most of the reference resources kind of come together about the year 1935 as to when Garetto completed his winery and become a bonded producer. The Carneros.org site indicates that Garetto’s winery was the first post-Prohibition winery to operate in the entire Carneros region.

It seems to this author that everybody is walking lightly about the Prohibition era and trying not to get pinned down to saying that Johnny Garetto ran illegal wine during Prohibition. It really does not matter, as the whole 14-year period of Prohibition was a silly exercise in attempting to legislate social behavior. Those who were caught selling booze during that period were really no more or less guilty than their buyers, few of which were ever prosecuted for illegally drinking an outlawed beverage. There, I said it! I got my biased opinion out there! I am attempting to meet with some of the old Napans from that era and area who are still with us to develop a census opinion as to what happened to and on Fly’ property during the 1900 to 1933 timeframe.

The next owner of the property was Beringer Vineyards. The Beringer family bought the property in 1951 for use as wine blending and storage facility. For more information on this period, please refer to my separate story on the Beringer Brothers (now owned by Fosters of Australia).

About 30 years later, in 1981, the owners of Beringer no longer wanted the property and it was sold to group of investors composed of Gerret Van S. Copeland (an heir of the duPont family), Richard Sutton and Austin Kiplinger (publisher of the” Kiplinger Washington newsletter” and "Changing Times" magazine.) They originally renamed the winery “Chateau Bouchaine.” The old white barn-like building was remodeled into a modern winery.

About Richard Sutton. (In research)

About Austin Kiplinger. His father, W.M. Kiplinger, created a form of business journalism --”Kiplinger Washington newsletter” -- that simplified complex financial matters so the average reader could grasp them and make monetary decisions. Although Austin worked at his father’s newsletter when he was growing up, he sought a different career. He was a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle just before he served in the navy during WW II. Following the war, he returned home and assisted his father in the start up of the publication, “Changing Times” magazine in 1946.

He still wanted his own career, so departed and joined the “Chicago Journal of Commerce” as a columnist. About this time television was making itself felt in the media and he saw opportunity. So while still in Chicago, he jumped to NBC and ABC to cover politics. He was the first broadcaster on TV business news.

In 1961 he succeeded his father as editor-in-chief of the Kiplinger newsletter that were collectively renamed, “Kiplinger Personal Finance.” He also became involved as a member of the board of directors in a number of community projects.

About Gerret Van S. Copeland. Gerret is the son of Lammot duPont Copeland, the 11th president of duPont and his wife, Pamela Cunningham duPont. Both parents are deceased. The du Pont family members are no longer active in management of the duPont business. Lammot du Pont Copeland was the last family member to head the firm and hestepped down in 1968.

It is estimated that the family members, on a whole, control about 20% of the company’s stock, thus, the can still exert their influence on the operations of the great company. The duPont family heirs who remain shareholders receive a private meeting once a year with senior executive and management about the status of the company.

The Copeland’s are involved in a number of community charities and projects in the home state of Delaware.

In the early 1990s, the Copeland’s (Gerret and Tatiana) bought out the interests of the other partners,renamed the winery property, “Bouchaine Vineyards,” and set about to totally upgrade the facilities again.

When I first arrived in Napa County back in 1984, I visited the winery to solicit use of their label on my first wine label poster-map featuring 85 labels from different Napa Valley wineries. I received their permission and the label is displayed on my first wine-label poster-map. I have witnessed the growth and changes in the look of Bouchaine over the years.

Carneros Creek: This Francis Mahoney winery helped put the Carneros AVA region on the map as one producing outstanding Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. ML=11


(http://www.briarcliffwines.com/) Briarcliff Wine Group purchased the name.

Michael Mondavi (eldest son of Robert Mondavi) started up Folio Fine Wine Partners (http://www.foliowine.com/)which purchased the physical “brick & mortar “ part of Mahoney’s former winery. The Mondavi’s are producing their “I’m” label wines at the site.

Mahoney also produces his (Mahoney Vineyards) and Fleur de California wines (www.fleurdecalifornia.com/ ) at the site.

Town of Napa
Donn Charles Ross: Out of Business, was located in the downtown Napa area. ML=61

Joseph Mathews: (Pre 1900 site) No longer in operation as a winery. The site is located in the downtown Napa area. Many former vintners once occupied this downtown Napa site. In the 1980s, it was involved in collapse of LendVest S&L and the infamous "Drug-Tug" scandal. ML=63 . Now Jarvis Conservatory for the Performing Arts, (www.jarvisconservatory.com/ ) created by William and Leticia Jarvis who also own ( http://www.jarviswines.com/ ) Jarvis winery in the eastern hills of Napa. It was built entirely underground in a large cave. There are additional historical information notes on the original creators of this pre-1900 winery and sherry house in development

Eastern Hills
Altamura: ( http://www.altamura.com/altamura/index.jsp ) Created by a son of George Altamura, a local developer and entrepenieur, this winery was first located along Silverado Trail in Napa and then moved to Wooden Valley in the eastern area of Napa County.

Darioush ( http://www.darioush.com/ ) now occupies the site in Napa where Frank Altamura formerly made his wines. ML=72

Tulocay: ( http://www.tulocay.com/ ) A consistent producer of good wines located in the Tulocay AVA which is the newest AVA within Napa County and located in the southeastern hills along Coombsville Road. ML=80

Whitford: ( http://www.whitfordcellars.com/ ) A small winery in southeastern foothills, in the Tulocay AVA, off Coombsville Road, making consistently good wines. ML=84

Eastern Valley Corridor - Silverado Trail
Clos du Val: ( http://www.closduval.com/ ) Located along Silverado Trail (the eastern valley corridor) in north Napa. John Goelet out of New York is principal owner. From their Sep. 5, 2007, press release: "About Goelet Wine Estates. Founded in 2007, the Goelet Wine Estates (GWE) is a global fine wine alliance coordinating the marketing, sales and distribution resources of five pioneering family owned and operated wine brands-Clos Du Val in the Napa Valley; Taltarni Vineyards in Victoria, Australia; Clover Hill and Lalla Gully in Tasmania, Australia and Domaine de Nizas in the Languedoc region of France. For more information visit http://www.goeletwineestates.com." Some history we found:
“The second richest real estate owning family of New York were the Goelets who like the Astors maintained huge tracts of Manhattan in their ownership for five generations. The Goelet family is much less known than the Astors, but their fortune and the fact that there were only few heirs in each generation, put them in the rank of America's first families in terms of wealth.” [Extracted from: http://www.raken.com/American_Wealth/realtors/Goelet1.asp ] ML=16

Hagenfen: ( www.hagafen.com/ ) Largest Napa Valley producer of kosher wines. It is located east of Napa, along Silverado Trail. ML=33

Central Valley Corridor - Big Ranch Road
(Trancas to Oak Knoll - located between Hwy 29 and Silverado Trail)

Got-A-Way Cellars: This was 2nd label of a winery operation named “Mallard” which went out of business. The site is now Andretti Winery ( http://www.andrettiwinery.com/ ) for which famous race car driver Mario Andretti is the key spokesperson. Andretti Wine Group (No Web site) is the business name owning the winery. Andretti is the third winery where our founder and creator of this poster, John Olney, once worked the tasting room. ML=30

Monticello: ( www.corleyfamilynapavalley.com/ ) A step back to the Jeffersonian times in terms of the architecture. Located adjacent to Andretti winery. ML=13

[These two were the only wineries on this road from the time this poster-map was created until just before the year 2000. Now there at least seven wineries located along Big Ranch Road.]

Western Valley Corridor - Hwy 29
Costello: No longer operating. ML=18 Now operating as (http://www.obrienestate.com/ ) O'Brien Family winery It located just off Hwy 29 between Napa and Yountville.

Newlan: Became Koves-Newlan but recently sold site and is no longer operating. ML=48 Now operating as Napa L'attitude headed by Maclean Wine (www.macleanwines.com/ ) It is located along the frontage road running parallel to Hwy 29. There are 15 small wine producers operating under this bonded site which, as of early August 2007, has yet to open a collective Web site.

Plam Vineyards: No longer operating in Napa. ML=54. Now site of Bell Wine Cellars ( www.bellwine.com/ ) and is owned by Spanos Berberian, LLC. ( http://agspanos.com/ ) Alex Spanos is a very successful businessman (called the largest family owned construction company in the USA) out of Stockton, California, who also owns the San Diego Chargers football team. Another partner in the winery operation is Anthony Bell who purchased the site from Plam when he headed Rutherford Benchmarks which owned the former Quail Ridge wine label. See Bronco Wine Company. Bell is located along Hwy 29 just north of Napa.

Strack: Out of Business. ML=28 Property purchased by George Altamura, a local Napa developer, mentioned earlier. This site is currently (July 2007) “For Sale” and includes 30 acres of vineyard. It is located just north of Napa, adjacent to ( http://www.laresidence.com/site/home ) La Residence B&B, and (http://www.bistrodongiovanni.com/ ) Bistro Don Giovanni Restaurant.

Trefethen: ( http://www.trefethen.com/html/a_winemakers.html ) The oldest all wood winery in California located at the intersection of Hwy 29 and Oak Knoll Avenue, halfway between Napa and Yountville. ML= 79 From their Web site:

“Constructed in 1886 by a Scottish sea captain, Hamden McIntyre, our winery was originally known as Eshcol. McIntyre designed it as a gravity-flow system: a horse-drawn winch brought grapes to the third floor of the three-story structure for crushing; gravity carried the juice to the second floor for fermenting; and, eventually, the wine descended to the first floor for aging. Eshcol was among a
number of wineries McIntyre designed during this period; the others were Greystone (now The Culinary Institute of America), Far Niente and Inglenook.

During the last quarter of the nineteenth century, Napa Valley was a thriving viticultural community with nearly 140 wineries. However, in the late 1890s, phylloxera, a root louse that destroys grapevines, brought wine production in Napa to a crashing halt. Growers soon recovered with re-planted vines, but in 1920, Prohibition arrived, driving a stake through the heart of the wine business. The old Eshcol facility survived by making sacramental wines, but by 1940 was dormant.

From that time until the Trefethen family purchased the property in 1968, the winery fell into serious disrepair.John and Janet committed themselves to restoring the building to its former glory. They carefully researched the winery's past and worked for years to restore it. Aside from replacing the dirt floor on the first level with concrete, they made no significant structural changes. The Trefethens'restoration efforts were recognized in 1988 by the Department of the Interior,which placed the winery on the National Register of Historic Places as the only 19th-century, wooden, gravity-flow winery surviving in Napa County.

Today, Trefethen boasts a state-of-the-art fermentation facility and 13,000 square foot barrel cellar, but the McIntyre Building remains integral to the winery's operations. The first floor is still used to age wine and also houses the winery's Estate Tasting Room and Wine Library. The second floor, which displays the Eshcol winery's original de-stemmer/crusher, is a barrel-aging cellar for the winery's Bordeaux varietyred wines.

From that time until the Trefethen family purchased the property in 1968, the winery fell into serious disrepair. John and Janet committed themselves to restoring the building to its former glory. They carefully researched the winery's past and worked for years to restore it. Aside from replacing the dirt floor on the first level with concrete, they made no significant structural changes. The Trefethens' restoration efforts were recognized in 1988 by the Department of the Interior, which placed the winery on the National Register of Historic Places as the only 19th-century, wooden, gravity-flow winery surviving in Napa County.“


Western Hills
Artisan: We have been unable to locate anybody from this group to confirm its business intentions. Was located on Redwood in the western hills. ML=5

Mayacamas: ( http://www.mayacamas.com/pages/history.html ) (pre-1900 site) One of five "new sites" opening after repeal of Prohibition who, because of the quality of their wines, rekindled winery growth in Napa Valley. Other four were Lee Stewart - Souverain [Now Burgess, shown on the Series “B“ poster-map], the McCrea's -Stoney Hill, the Mondavi's at Charles Krug (shown on this poster-map) and the Martini's ( Shown on the Series “B” poster-map) now owned by E & J Gallo]. ML=39 From their Web site:

"The winery was built in 1889 by John Henry Fisher, a German immigrant, who first worked as a sword engraver in Philadelphia and then became a pickle merchant in San Francisco. The winery was also used by his family as a summer home and as a ranch to raise and care for the horses he used to deliver pickles to his clients in San Francisco. He sold his wine by the barrel. The barrels were loaded onto horse drawn wagons, driven fifteen miles to the Napa River, and then transferred to ferry boats which took the wine to San Francisco where it was bottled and sold.

Soon after the turn of the century, the Fishers declared bankruptcy. The winery officially fell into disuse, although bootleggers are said to have made wine in the old stone cellar. During the late 1920s and 1930’s the Henry Brandlin family, some of whom still live in the area, owned the property. Then in 1941 Jack and Mary Taylor bought the land. They restored the winery, turned the old stone distillery into their home, and chose to name the restored estate Mayacamas Vineyards.

In 1968, the winery was purchased by its present owners, Robert and Elinor Travers. Under their direction, aging facilities have been enlarged, neighboring land has been purchased, and vineyard clearing, planting and replanting are an ongoing process. In addition to Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, small blocks of Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Cabernet Franc are grown. "

Mount Veeder: ( www.mtveeder.com/ ) ML=45. Now owned by the New York firm formerly known as Canandiaqua Brands, now Constellation Brands (http://www.cbrands.com/CBI/constellationbrands/homepage/default.jsp. Used in the filming of "A Walk in the Clouds," starring Anthony Quinn and Keanu Reeves. Constellation is #2 on the WBN 2006 “Largest Wineries List.”

Sky: ( http://www.skyvineyards.com/home/ A very small winery operation west of Napa atop the Mayacamas range barely reachable with conventional car. ML=73

North Napa/Yountville (11)
We have included current information by way of providing you access to the appellation advocacy groups that represent this area.
Yountville District: http://www.yountvillewines.com/

Eastern Valley Corridor - Silverado Trail
Pine Ridge: ( http://www.pineridgewinery.com/ ) Leucadia National Corp,(Corp. offices in NY and Exec offices in Salt Lake, UT.) has a subsidiary called Leucadia Cellars, Ltd. which owns Pine Ridge. It is located almost to the intersection with Yountville Cross Road. ML=52 .
There are additional historical information notes on the original creators of this early 1900 winery in development.

S. Anderson: Now operating as ( http://www.cliffledevineyards.com/index.html ) Cliff Lede (pronounced like“lady“) Vineyards. Anderson name still used on bubble production labels. Located on Yountville Cross Road near the intersection with Silverado Trail. ML=3

Shafer: ( http://www.shafervineyards.com/ ) Solid producer every year. It is located along Silverado Trail, almost to the intersection with Yountville Cross Road. ML=68

Silverado Vineyards: ( http://www.silveradovineyards.com/index.html ) Ron and Diane Disney Miller. She is the daughter of Walt & Lillian Disney. He is a former professional football player (LA Rams) and head of the Disney Studios. . It is located on a hill along Silverado Trail, almost to the intersection with Yountville Cross Road, with a great view all the way up the valley. This is the second winery where our founder and creator of this poster, John Olney, once worked the tasting room and gave tours. ML=2

Western Valley Corridor - Hwy 29
Bernard Pradel: Out of business with the label purchased by ( http://www.goosecross.com/ ) Goosecross Winery. ML=55 . The site is now occupied by ( http://www.elysewinery.com/ ) Elyse Winery. Located on Hoffman just off Hwy 29 and before reaching Yountville.

Chateau Chevre: Once a goat milk site converted into a winery, out of wine production business since 1999, but remains a grower selling his grapes to others. Located on Hoffman Lane, off Hwy 29 and just before reaching Yountville. ML=15

Chandon: ( http://www.chandon.com/default.html ) Bubbly owned by (http://www.lvmh.com/ ) Moet-Hennessey of France. The only winery in Napa County with a full premiere restaurant. Located on California just off Hwy 29 at the first exit going north into Yountville. ML=22 Moet-Hennessey is #25 on the WBN 2006 “Largest Wineries List.”

DeMoor: Site has undergone many owner and name changes over the years. ML=67 . Now is owned by the Trinchero Family ( http://www.tfewines.com/wines.html ) and operating as ( http://www.napacellars.com/ ) Napa Cellars. Napa Cellars is located along Hwy 29, north of Yountville. The Family also own (http://www.sutterhome.com/home.php ) Sutter Home and ( http://www.folieadeux.com/ ) Folie A Deux. They purchased the Napa Cellars site winery in 2006. The Trinchero Family is #6 on the WBN 2006 “Largest Wineries List”

Havens: ( http://www.havenswine.com/ ) This is one of the best-looking labels out there: clean and neat. (http://www.billingtonwines.com/) Billington Imports, Springfield, VA, acquired Havens Wine Cellars in August of 2006. Michael Havens will continue as winemaker. Located on Hoffman Lane, off Hwy 29 and just before reaching Yountville. ML=34

Yountville
California Soleil: Out of Business, was located along Yountville Cross Road. ML=35
Oakville/Rutherford (22)
We have included current information by way of providing you access to the appellation advocacy groups that represent this area.
Oakville District: http://www.oakvillewinegrowers.com/
Rutherford District: http://www.rutherforddust.org/

Eastern Hills
Rutherford Hill: ( http://www.rutherfordhill.com/news/ ) Owned by an American firm, “The Telato Group“ (http://www.twg.com/ ) operating out of the Chicago area. Also owns Chimney Rock (http://www.chimneyrock.com/ )and Episode in Napa. Has a joint venture in Glass Mountain, located east of St. Helena. Rutherford Hill is located just above the prestigious Auberge du Soleil Resort (http://www.aubergedusoleil.com/ ) which is off Silverado Trail, near the intersection of Hwy 128/Sage Canyon Road. ML=64

Eastern Valley Corridor - Silverado Trail
Piña: ( http://www.pinanapavalley.com/ ) Leader in vineyard management. Continues own wine production using different label design. Located near intersection of Oakville Cross Road. ML=47

Round Hill: ( http://www.roundhillwines.com/ ) Acquired by ASV Wines who conduct a bulk wine bus-iness as well as this site as a premium wine. They have merged the site into a company called Rutherford Wine Company. Located just pass the intersection with Hwy 128/Sage Canyon Road. ML=62 They are #26 on the WBN 2006“Largest Wineries List.”

Villa Mt. Eden: ( http://www.villamteden.com/ ) (pre-1900 site) ML=81. Label moved and is co-located with Conn Creek (displayed on my Series-B poster-map) at the intersection of Conn Creek Road (an extension of Rutherford Cross Road) and Silverado Trail. ( http://www.ustinc.com/ ) UST Inc. (United States Tobacco of Connecticut) includes the subsidiary, International Wine & Spirits Ltd., which through it owns Ste Michelle Wine Estates (formerly its subsidiary called Stimson Lane) ( http://ste-michelle-wine-estates.com/index.cfm), which operates these two wineries. They are #10 on the WBN 2006“Largest Wineries List.
From this site:
http://www.globalgourmet.com/food/wineday/2000/wd0600/wd063000.html

The St. Helena Star newspaper, September, 1887:
The Mt. Eden Vineyards owned by G.S. Meyers, and lying east of Rutherford, consist of 108 acres, and are this year yielding a fine crop...which is being made up in the commodious cellar belonging to the fine estate."


“Past Owners—The Bank of America was founded by A.P. Giannini. His granddaughter, Anne McWilliams, once was an owner.

More Name Dropping—The estate provided the setting for the film "They Knew What They Wanted" in 1940 starring Carole Lombard.”

There are additional historical information notes on the original creators of this pre-1900 winery in preparation.

The original Villa Mt. Eden site is now called (http://www.plumpjack.com/winery2.html) Plumbjack Winery (which is owned in part by J. Paul Getty. When he became the current Mayor of San Francisco, Gavin Newsom, was a principal owner and operator of this winery but had to place his holding in a blind trust.



ZD: ( http://www.zdwines.com/ ) Originally located south of the town of Sonoma, in the Carneros Region. Located along Silverado Trail just before the Hwy 128/Rutherford Cross Road/Conn Creek Road intersection. ML=81

Shown & Sons: Out of business was located along the Trail. ML=70

Western Valley Corridor - Hwy 29/128/St. Helena Hwy
Beaulieu Vineyards: ( http://www.bvwines.com/my_bv_story ) pre-1900s winery site) now owned by the British firm (http://www.diageo.com/en-row/homepage.htm ) Diageo Chateau & Estate Wine Co. This is a company formed by the merger of Grand Metro and Guinness. Located near the intersection with Rutherford Cross Road. ML=6 Diageo is #8 on the WBN “Largest Wineries List” From their Web site:

“When Fernande saw the land she exclaimed “Quel Beaulieu” which in French means beautiful place, thus Beaulieu Vineyard® was named. This new venture for the de Latours was timely. In fact, Napa Valley had been suffering because of a vine-destroying louse called phylloxera. Thanks to Georges’ knowledge of the cure for phylloxera - resistant rootstock that he would import by the millions over the next decade - prosperity would return to Napa Valley, and Georges would soon be a most influential and well-known figure.

As the St. Helena Star wrote in May, 1911: "When it comes to quality, California is greatly indebted to Mr. G. de Latour, of Rutherford, who for some years has imported hundreds of thousands of the choicest French grafted vines, which have been planted in all the important vineyards of the State."

Fortunately, the next year he was able to buy the old stone winery across the road, a facility that had been built in 1885 by former California Senator Seneca Ewer. Almost immediately, Georges added a new wing with more vats and barrels to accommodate his increased production. Within the next ten years, he expanded the new BV winery three times, and volume grew to more than one million gallons.

When Prohibition was repealed in 1933, Georges de Latour had become a wealthy man, and his facilities were thoroughly up to date. He had never completely ceased making regular table wines, and had been aging them patiently in the cellars,waiting for the widely flouted laws to change. When the day of repeal finally came, BV was ready to recommence offering wines to the general public.

By 1936 de Latour realized he needed a new approach if he was going to produce wine as high in quality as French wine. 1936 turned out a small but great vintage and Georges de Latour needed a winemaker, someone who understood European standards and knew how to make world-class wine. No one at Beaulieu Vineyard, no matter how competent, possessed this expertise.

In 1938, Georges went back to his roots, to the Bordeaux region of France, to find the man who could make his dream of world-class wine a reality. By chance, he found that man working in Paris at the Institut National Agronomique — a Russian-born émigré named André Tchelistcheff. Tchelistcheff listened to de Latour’s request to work for him in California. Tchelistcheff arrived in California in September 1938, and California wine would never be the same again. During the 1940s, BV wines were served at all important White House functions — enjoyed by people like Eleanor Roosevelt and Winston Churchill.”

Cakebread: ( http://www.cakebread.com/toc2.html ) A major voice in agricultural preservation in the valley. Located in Oakville. ML=9

Caymus: ( http://www.caymus.com/}Long time grower converted to grower-vintner. Changed work overalls for sophistication. Located on Rutherford Cross Road, near the intersection with Conn Creek Road which connects to Silverado Trail on the eastern side of the valley. ML=12

Evensen: Out of business and site purchased by Cakebread (http://www.cakebread.com/toc2.html ) which is located adjacent to this property. Cakebread built additional wine production facilities on the old Evensen property. Located in Oakville. ML=21

Far Niente: ( http://www.farniente.com/) (pre-1900s winery site) Originally built by a wealthy San Franciscan and purchased and reconstructed by Nickel & Nickel, wealthy Midwest nurserymen. A classically beautiful site to visit and certainly one of the most elaborate, if not expensive, label's produced. Located on Oakville Grade in close proximity to Hwy 29. ML= 26 From their Web site:

“Far Niente was founded in 1885 by John Benson, a forty-niner of the California gold rush and uncle of the famous American impressionist painter, Winslow Homer. Benson hired architect Hamden McIntyre, creator of the former Christian Brothers winery – now the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone – to design the building. Constructed against a hillside in western Oakville, Far Niente functioned as a gravity flow winery, gently moving the grapes through each stage of production.

Far Niente prospered until the onset of Prohibition in 1919, when it was abandoned and left to fall into disrepair. Sixty years later, in 1979, Gil Nickel purchased the winery and adjacent vineyard and began a three-year restoration of the property. During restoration, the original name, Far Niente, from an Italian phrase that romantically translated means "without a care," was found carved in stone on the front of the building where it remains to this day. We felt an obligation to preserve the name with the hope that we could recapture a bygone era when life was indeed without a care.”

Franciscan Oakville Estate: (http://www.franciscan.com/) Now owned by American firm operating out of New York formerly known as Canandiaqua Brands, and now renamed "Constellation Brands.” called (http://www.cbrands.com/CBI/constellationbrands/homepage/default.jsp) It is second in size to only E & J Gallo. It is located on Galleron Lane at intersection of Hwy 29 just before St. Helena. ML=29 . Constellation is #2 on the WBN 2006 “Largest Wineries List”

Groth: ( http://www.grothwines.com/ ) Former Atari executive producing expensive wines. Located on Rutherford Cross Road between Hwy 29 and Silverado Trail. ML=32

Johnson Turnbull: Now site of ( http://www.turnbullwines.com:8080/ ) Turnbull Winery. Located in Oakville. ML=10

Peju Province: ( http://www.peju.com/ ) Tony & Herta Peju have built up a winery business in spite of many regulatory complications which they have managed to survive. Located in Oakville along Hwy 29 near Rutherford Cross Road. ML=49

Robert Mondavi: ( http://www.mondavi.com/ ) (pre-1900s vineyards and site of a 1966 winery) called (http://www.cbrands.com/CBI/constellationbrands/homepage/default.jsp ) Constellation Brands,“ purchased the Robert Mondavi Empire for about $1.3 billion in 2002. Located along Hwy 29 in Oakville. ML= 43 Constellation Brands is #2 on the WBN 2006 “Largest Wineries List.” From their Web site:

“The Robert Mondavi Winery was built in 1966 on a portion of the historic To Kalon Vineyard located in the Oakville district. Pioneer viticulturist H.W.Crabb first planted this vineyard in 1868 and named it “To Kalon,” which means
“the beautiful” in Greek.

[There was a three-building winery complex on the property which burned to the ground]

By 1978, Robert Mondavi had acquired 250 acres of Crabb’s historic 359 acre vineyard. The remaining acres are owned by major Napa Valley wine grower Beckstoffer Vineyards (89 acres) and UC Davis (20 acres). Continuing Crabb’s passion for the Oakville “bench” area, Robert Mondavi also acquired 300 adjoining acres. Today, Robert Mondavi’s To Kalon Vineyard encompasses 550 acres.
Robert Pepi: Out of Business. Now owned by the American firm, Jackson Family Wines (Kendall-Jackson), operating out of Mendocino County, and renamed ( http://www.cardinale.com/ ) Cardinale. Pepi label still produced by the Jackson Family Wines. Located along Hwy 29 in Oakville.” ML=23 . Jackson is #9 on the WBN 2006 “Largest Wineries List.”

Rutherford Vintners: Out of Business. Now site occupied by (http://www.rutherfordgrove.com/ ) Rutherford Grove. Bronco Wine Company purchased this label. ML=65

Sequoia Grove: ( http://www.sequoiagrove.com/sequoiagrove/index.jsp ) Situated among one of the last surviving groves that had been plentiful in the old days of Napa County. Located in Oakville. ML=66

Silver Oak: ( http://www.silveroak.com/ ) When they release their new wines armored trucks jam up Oakville Cross Road where the winery is located halfway between Hwy 29 and Silverado Trail. ML=71

Western Hills
Vose: No longer in operation. Now renamed Chateau Potelle ( http://www.chateaupotelle.com/ ) and owed by a French family. (Displayed on the Series-B poster-map). Located in the western hills along the Mayacamas range, just before Oakville Grade Road. ML=25
Sage Caynon/Chiles/Pope/Lake Berryessa (3)
Chappellet: ( http://www.chappellet.com/ ) Along with Robert Mondavi and a handful of others, quickly moved the industry away from sweetened wines to premium varietals in the 1960s. Located off Hwy 128, also known as Sage Canyon Road, which travels to Lake Berryessa and on to the Central Valley to the east. Hwy 128 is also known as Rutherford Cross Road/Conn Creek Road and connects Silverado Trail to Hwy 29 to the west. ML=44

Green & Red: ( http://www.greenandred.com/ ) Small winery located off Hwy 128/Sage Canyon between Silverado Trail and Lake Berryessa, east of Rutherford. ML=31

Rustridge: (http://www.rustridge.com/) A winery and ranch located off Hwy 128/Sage Canyon between Silverado Trail and Lake Berryessa. Ml=38

Click here >>to read about the wineries past and present north of Rutherford

Posted by The wine Country Club at 7:45 AM 0 comments Links to this post

The Wineries Past & Present - Part 2

You can return to previous parts to the Series 'A' poster-map or go on to Series'B' by clicking onto the following URLs:

The beginning of Series 'A' poster-map.
The wineries Past & Present - Part 1
The wineries Past & Present - Part 2
Series 'B' Poster-map wineries
St. Helena (22)

We have included current information way of providing you access to the appellation advocacy groups that represent this area.
St. Helena District: http://appellationsthelena.com/

Eastern Valley Corridor - Silverado Trail
Chateau Boswell: ( http://www.chateauboswellwinery.com/content/our_history.cfm ) A winery located along Silverado Trail east of St. Helena. Their gates don't ever seem to be open. ML=14

Joseph Phelps: ( http://www.jpvwines.com/ ) Created by the gentleman who constructed many wineries before opening his own. He formerly owned the Oakville Grocery outlets which is now owned by Leslie Rudd. ( http://www.ruddgrp.com/ /) Phelps also donated the land for the recently opened migrant workers housing project located along the Silverado Trail. Located on Taplin, which intersects Silverado Trail. ML=7

Napa Creek: Out of Business. A former 1930's slaughterhouse. ML=46 . The site now operating as (http://www.kentrasmussenwinery.com/ ) Kent Rasmussen Winery and Ramsay Wines. Bronco Wine Company purchased the Napa Creek label.

Western Valley Corridor - Hwy 29
Beringer: ( http://www.beringer.com/beringer/index.jsp ) (pre-1900s winery site) Australian firm Foster's Group-Beringer Blass ( http://www.fostersgroup.com/ ) bought this conglomerate out for about $1.5 billion. Located just north of the town of St. Helena. ML=51 Fosters is #5 on the WBN 2006 “Largest Wineries List.” From their Web site:
“The Rhine House
Completed in 1884 by Architect Albert Schroepfer, Frederick Beringer's residence has beautiful exterior stonework, stained-glass windows and interior wood paneling - all exhibiting exceptional artistry and craftsmanship. When building his 17-room mansion, Frederick wanted to create a California villa that was reminiscent of the family's impressive old German home at Mainz-on-the-Rhine. Built at a cost of about $28,000 (with the 40 panels ofstained glass accounting for $6,000, nearly a quarter of total constructioncosts) the Rhine House is a classic example of ornate Victorian architecture with its many gables, turrets and ornaments.

Hudson House
The Hudson House was built around 1850 and was on the property (although not in its current location) when the Beringer brothers bought the land in 1875. It was originally the house of David Hudson, known for his involvement in the Bear Flag Revolt of1846 in nearby Sonoma, an event that was instrumental in California winning independence from Mexico. When Frederick began planning his majestic Rhine House he decided the best location was the spot where the Hudson House, Jacob's residence, was located. So the Hudson House was moved, pulled on logs by draft horses about 200ft north to its current location.

Gravity Flow Winery
The Beringer brothers located their winery building against the hillside so they could use gravity flow methods to make their wine, as was the custom in their native Rhine Valley . Construction of the Old Winery began in 1876 and its became operational for the harvest of 1877. Draft horses would bring the gondolas of grapes up the road behind the winery to the third floor. Grapes were crushed in the then state-of-the-art, steam-powered crusher and the must was gravity fed down to the second floor for fermentation. After the wine finished fermenting, it flowed by gravity down to the ground floor for storage and aging,before being bottled and then aged in the tunnels.

Tunnels
Rare among Napa Valley wineries, the aging caves of Beringer were dug into the hillside of Spring Mountain from the late 1870's to the early 1880's. The tedious and strenuous task of hand-chiseling the 1,200 linear feet of tunnels was completed by Chinese immigrant workers. The hillside rock acts as a natural insulator and keeps the temperature in the tunnels at an ideal 58-60 degrees Fahrenheit year-round with a humidity of 75-80%, perfect conditions for storing wine. “

From Prohibition on:
1920 - 1933: The winery operates through Prohibition by selling sacramental wines under a federal license allowing wine to be made for religious purposes…….
1934: Beringer becomesthe first winery to offer public tours, thus beginning the area's tourist winebusiness (tasting was not offered until 1956). To celebrate the end ofProhibition in 1934, Beringer organizes a big festival………
1967: The 91-year old Beringer Winery is named a State Historical Landmark.
1971: MyronNightingale becomes Beringer's fifth winemaker and develops a special botrytisedwine that is still made today at the winery and aptly called “Nightingale”.
1979: Bob Steinhauer becomes vineyard manager, replacing Roy Raymond Jr. Bob and Ed go on to create an incredible partnership. “Bob always says he gives me diamonds, and it's up to me to polish them,” Ed often remarks. ………
2001:Beringer celebrates its 125 th anniversary and the distinction of being the
oldest continuously operating winery in Napa Valley . “

Charles Krug: ( http://www.charleskrug.com/ ) (pre-1900s
winery site) Peter Mondavi and Family now operate what was once the estate of Cesare Mondavi & Sons (Robert & Peter) family dynasty. Robert and Peter had fist fight resulting in the departure of Robert who went on to build his own empire. Located just north of the town of St. Helena, along Hwy 29. ML=37 Peter & family are #15 on the WBN 2006“Largest Wineries List.” From their web site:

"Founded in 1861 by Charles Krug, the27-year old Prussian immigrant came to America with little besides willpower and a willingness to work hard to build the cornerstone of the first winery in the Napa Valley. He became the major local winery figure of his era, greatly influencing Napa Valley's development as a world-renown wine producing region.

[There is some question about Krug being the first winery. Beforehe built his winery in St. Helena, Krug made wine for a gentleman named Patchett who had a small winery operation in downtown Napa.]

His leadership was said to be inspirational, and his ideas innovative. Charles Krug introduced the cider press for winemaking, the first of which is still on display at the winery. He carefully selected rootstocks, varietals and vineyard sites - a novel concept in late 19th Century America. The knowledge he gained and shared benefited the young California wine industry…………

After his death in 1892 James Moffitt purchased the winery in 1893, holding it in proprietorship through Prohibition. By 1943 he found a pioneering spirit in Cesare and Rosa Mondavi, Italian immigrants with a passion for wine, and sold the winery to them for $75,000.

[The real story is that Krug went bankrupt and his good friend Moffitt purchased the property and leased out the vineyards. Before the Mondavi’s purchased the site though, Moffitt leased it to Louis Stralla, brother of Frank Stralla Cornero who operated off-shore gambling boats in Long Beach during Prohibition, along with his brothers ran booze to Las Vegas, and then went on to build the Star Dust Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas -- the Stralla‘s are quite an interesting story!]
Cesare Mondavi at 60 years old then spearheaded a dramatic renaissance in the decade that followed. Wine historian Charles Sullivan writes in his book, Napa Wine, 'By the early 1950's it was irrefutable that the Valley's Big Four had been augmented by one - the Charles Krug Winery'.

When Cesare died in 1959, Rosa was named president. Their sons worked at the helm of the winery operation with Robert as General Manager and Peter as Vice President. In 1966, Peter became President and Robert moved south to Oakville and began construction of his own winery.

[There is a different version of this story. The brothers actually had a “knock down fight” on the grounds over how the winery should be operated. Momma sided with Peter and Robert was cast out. He would later sue and win over the way the Krug winery proceeds were being distributed.]
Our founder and the designer of this poster-map, John Olney, wrote the following article about Krucg winery:
Tuesday, April 05, 2005

PART ONE - THE KRUG ESTATE - THE CHARLES KRUG ERA

Part 1 --Charles Krug Era (Duration: 1860-1892)
(Now owned and operated by the Peter Mondavi Family)

Source (s):
(1) History of Napa Co. California, 1881, Slocum, Bowen & Co. Publishers;
(2) Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891;
(3) History of Napa County, Wallace, W. E., 1901, Enquirer Print;
(4) Wine Country - A history of Napa Valley - The early years: 1838-1920, Heintz, Wm., 1990, Capra Pres;
(5) Old Napa Valley - The History to 1900, Lin Weber, 1995, Wine Ventures Publishing;
(6) American Vintage - The Rise of American Wine, Paul Lukacs, 2000, Houghton Mifflin Co.

Charles Krug came to San Francisco, California from Philadelphia in 1852 and was a journalist-editor for Staats Zeitung, the first German newspaper published in California. It originated in New York in 1834. Krug remained at this position until 1854. {The German-American Herman Ridder bought out Staats Zeitung in 1892. Under his ownership it became an American corporate empire known as the media giant Knight-Ridder.}

Krug them moved to the Crystal Springs area of San Mateo where he worked a land claim in attempt to grow grapes. Colonel Agoston Haraszthy was also working grapes in the area. He would become labeled as the man who initiated California wine. How long, and the extent to which these two men knew each other in San Mateo, appears to be undocumented. They did however quickly learn that the cold, damp environment of the peninsula was not at all suitable to wine grape production. Then both men were next found working at the new San Francisco Mint constructed in 1855.

One can only presume that either Haraszthy or Krug, or both, conducted some sort of research in order to determine that they best move to the more agreeable grape growing conditions that could be found north of San Francisco, because that’s where they were subsequently found together in the Carneros area jointly shared by Napa and Sonoma Counties.

The origin of the great Charles Krug ranch begins with his introduction to the family of a man named "Dr." Edward T. Bale. Let me explain the importance of this introduction before going on any further about Krug himself. In 1840, Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, the Mexican government’s military authority in the northern California area, appointed Bale to be the surgeon-in-chief of his Army. None of my research reference material reports on exactly how he became a “doctor.” Apparently Dr. Bale had no degree and had not been formally trained as a physician. However, there was sufficient evidence of his talents to give Vallejo the confidence to choose him as his surgeon-in-chief. In 1841, when Bale married Maria Guadalupe Soberanes, the niece of Vallejo, he received a 17,000-acre land grant from the Mexican Government via Vallejo’s authority. It was only the fourth land grant awarded since the Mexican's wrestled sovereignty over Mexico -- and its northern area known as Alta California -- away from Spanish rule. Bale’s property stretched from the northern boundary of George Yount's land (the first land grant made in the area), all the way to about Tubbs Lane (Named after the creator of Chateau Montelena winery) in Calistoga. Dr. Bale constructed a gristmill on the western side of his property along the gentle sloping portion of land at the foot of the Mayacamas range.

For those readers unfamiliar with this equipment, it a building in which wheat is separated to extract the grain which in turn is ground under a very large stone wheel to produce flour. During this timeframe, the primary source of power was stream water dropping onto a paddlewheel connected through special gearing that turned the grinding stone.

On the eastern boundary of his land grant, along the Napa River, he constructed a sawmill.

{California State Historical Landmark No. 359 - Old Bale Mill -- The restored gristmill can be visited in the historical park of the same name located on the west side of Hwy 29/128, between St. Helena and Calistoga. Federal listing - Bale Mill (added 1972 - Building - #72000240)}

In 1858, Isadora married a man named Louis Bruck. Following Bale’s death, she received the gristmill and surrounding property as part of her inheritance. The subsequent relatively rapid dilution of the land grant property resulted in the creation of a number of well known, and still standing, wineries including Ehlers Estate, Beringer Brothers, Lyman’s winery-now El Molino, Tychson’s winery-now Freemark Abbey, General Keyes’ Edge Hill winery & distillery-now owned by Leslie Rudd, Greystone-now Culinary Institute of America, and other wineries, White Sulfur Springs Spa & Resort, and the city of St. Helena itself. The Bruck’s would sell the gristmill property about the same time that Louis became aware of the winemaking talents of Charles Krug.

Bruck’s interest in Krug was generated by the latter’s efforts with a John Patchett located in the town of Napa. Patchett met Krug in 1858 when he took a trip to Sonoma. Krug was working with Colonel Agostin (also sometimes written as Agiston or Agoston) Haraszthy -- often called the “Father of California Viticulture” -- and others on a 20-acre vineyard site in Sonoma (eventually known as Buena Vista Society winery). He liked what he saw and asked Krug to come to his winery in Napa and make wine for him using Patchett’s grapes crushed in a cider press. The only other commercial wine production of any significance prior to Krug’s effort for Patchett was that conducted by Colonel Haraszthy in Sonoma in 1857 and Charles Kohler of the San Franciscan wine merchant firm of Kohler & Frohling in 1855 {The wine was probably made at their large Petaluma winery site).

[Although many writers credit Krug with the first commercial winery building in Napa County, it is probable that that honor should rightly belong to John Patchett since Krug would not build his own winery until two years later.]

In 1859, Krug made wine for Louis Bruck on the Bale Mill property and a year later for the county’s first Caucasian settler - George Yount. Making wines for the early pioneers David Hudson, John York, George Tucker and Henry Owsley quickly followed these efforts, all located in or near the heart of the “Hot Springs Township“ now divided into the two towns known as St. Helena and Calistoga.

[Based on all of these efforts, it could be said that Charles Krug can lay claim to being the “First Consulting Winemaker in Northern California.” ]

{California State Historical Landmark No. 564 - George Yount ‘s original settlement - Located off Hwy 29, go north of Yountville, turn on to Yount Mill Road and follow it easterly as it bends back towards Yountville along the banks of Napa River. There you will find the marker and across from it still stands remnants of the old sawmill}

{California State Historical Landmark No.’s 682 & 683 - Sites of the York and Hudson cabins originally erected in 1845. They were both located on the SW
corner of the intersection of Kortum Canyon Rd.-Lincoln Ave. and Hwy 29/128 in
Calistoga. You may have to move the bush branches and weeds around to read the plaque. York is credited with discovering the White Sulphur Springs, which later became the first California resort spa. Hudson would buy property from Dr. Bale that would become part of the Beringer Brothers winery compound}.

About the time Krug was working with Louis Bruck, he met the other Bale daughter, Caroline, and in 1860 they married. The dowry for this marriage included over 500 acres of the Bale land grant bordering Napa River just north of the town of St. Helena, which included the Bale Sawmill. Krug built his first winery on this land in 1861. It was a small facility, half dug into the earth and having only a straw roof over the interior. In 1868, he started construction of a second and much larger complex on the property. It was to include a two-story stone winery, distillery, stables and homes. Then in 1874, the interior of the second winery building was destroyed by fire. His general manager/winemaker at the time was a young aspiring vintner named Jacob Beringer who would in turn become a well-known figure in producing quality wines. Beringer was reported to have personally attempted to extinguish the fire but to no avail. Because of Krug’s strong drive he immediately began reconstruction of the facility. Jacob Beringer would leave the Krug ranch in 1878 to work exclusively with his brother, Frederick, on the development of his own winegrowing business. Somewhere about this timeframe, Louis Bruck became Forman of the Krug ranch.

{California State Historical Landmark No. 563 - Founded in 1861 by Charles Krug(1825-1892), this is the oldest operating winery in Napa Valley. The pioneer winemaker of this world-famous region, Krug made the first commercial wine in Napa County at Napa in 1858. Federal Historical listing -Krug, Charles, Winery (added 1974 - Building - #74000542)}

Krug would, over the remaining 18 years of his life, become a major keystone to the development of the winegrowing industry of not only Napa Valley, but for all of California; indeed, for the nation itself. In 1875, Charles Krug founded the St. Helena Viticultural Society along with other prominent winegrowers of the time. One of those men included Seneca Ewer. {Ewer was co-owner of Ewer & Atkinson winery that would eventually be purchased by Georges de Latour and become Beaulieu Vineyards. It is now owned by Diageo, plc, which is the result of the merger of Grand Met and Guinness; two British giants.} Krug was the first president of the Society that would swell in membership over the next few years. Although the Society was originally formed to spread the word about the tiny louse, Phylloxera, and its catastrophic damage to the sensitive European varietals, it appeared to grow into a technical information sharing organization as well as a marketing arm for the encouragement of new people to join in on winemaking in upper Napa County. The Society could be viewed as a forerunner of the present day Napa Valley Vintners Association as well as the Wine Institute.

In the late 1870s, the industry had grown to such size that most knowledgeable growers and vintners were concerned with over-production, use of inferior varietals, misrepresentation in labeling and even wine diluting by eastern brokers, and the news of the tiny louse, Phylloxera, that was destroying the great vineyards of France. Political forces were at work pushing the legislative bodies in Sacramento to come to the rescue of the vineyard owners and winemakers. Along with other important men of the industry, Krug spoke to the body in February of 1880 to encourage them to support creation of a state board to look out for the interest of this rapidly growing agricultural economic base. They met with success and in the spring of 1880, and the Board of State Viticultural Commissioners was created. There were seven districts throughout California, each with a Commissioner appointed by the Governor plus two at-large Commissioners. Therefore, it can be said politics probably played an important role in the selection process for designation of each Commissioner. Krug was the first Commissioner to represent the Napa-Solano-Contra Costa district. He was also selected to be one of the three officers of the Board: he was chosen to be Treasurer.

In the early 1880s, Krug and others formed the Napa Valley Wine Company. It was designed to market the company’s wines on a national basis to counter the often fraudulent (watering down) and deceptive (using European names on labels) practices of eastern wine brokers and wholesalers.

The winegrowing business had been good to all, especially in the north valley area around St. Helena. All of the directors of the newly formed Bank of St. Helena in 1882 came from the winegrowing industry. They included Krug, Ewer (of Ewer & Atkinson - now Beaulieu), Judge Serranus Clinton Hastings (of Nook Farms in Rutherford, which was also purchased by Georges de Latour and absorbed into Beaulieu, and Hastings Law College located in San Francisco and part of the University of California organization), William Whittingham Lyman (now El Molino winery), William Scheffler (of Edge Hill winery/distillery - now owned by Leslie Rudd), Gustave Niebaum (of Inglenook - now owned by Francis Ford Coppola), Henry W. Crabb (of To-Kalon vineyards - now owned mostly by the recent Robert Mondavi and Constellation merger), and other major winery and vineyard owners of the times.

{Today, the Bank of St. Helena building is one of the hot nightlife clubs in Napa County. It is called the “1351 Lounge” and named after the street address. Even the original bank vault door remains in the back of the club.} [Since Mr. Olney wrote the article, the Lounge closed]

However, the 1880s saw the influx of the dreaded phylloxera and year-by-year large acreage of vineyards were producing seriously lower tonnage or just simply died off. Winegrowers were challenged by the costs to replant and then wait for commercial yields to be produced, which amounted to four to five years of growth. By the middle of the decade, like many other great winegrowers of the time, Krug was suffering economic set back. By the beginning of the 1890s about half of the vineyards of Napa County had been lost to this tiny bug. Many winegrowers were over-extended relying heavily on loans to carry them through and Krug was no different. The Napa County Reporter newspaper published an article in 1885 listing all of the debts owed to others by Krug including personal loans from some of the original directors (Carver, Ewer and Niebaum) of the Bank of St. Helena as well as the bank itself. Add to these creditors, the Bank of Napa, Jacob Levi, Sr. (of Levi-Straus), Alfred Tubbs (Chateau Montelena winery) and many more.

Wineries began to collapse. Scheffler bellied up in 1887, Krug finally was forced to insolvency in 1891, about year before his death. Other great winegrowers in financial trouble were Gottleib Groezinger’s winery & distillery operations in Yountville (now known as Vintage 1870 Stores) which went under in 1891, Alfred Tubbs’ Chateau Montelena winery discontinued operations in 1899 and Ewer’s partner, J.B. Atkinson’s vineyard (now part of St. SupÈry winery), also went down in 1899. H.W. Crabb’s To-Kalon winery (vineyards now mostly owned by the R. Mondavi -Constellation merger.) went bankrupt<. Compounding the Phylloxera problem was the growing temperance movement. Even in Napa County, where so much of the economy had become based on the production of wine, there were serious candidates running under the banner of the Prohibition Party. Maine was the first state to vote itself dry in 1851. However, the real struggle to abolish alcohol as an evil beast of mankind had begun in the post-civil war era. It took a strong hold on the public’s conception of alcohol consumption in the mid 1870s with the formation of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU). It gained its most significant notoriety with the axe-welding Carrie Moore Nation. Kansas was the second dry state (1880), and over the decade, at least five more state would vote to go dry. In 1888, William B. Bourn, II, and Everett J. Wise envisioned a sort of communal economic approach to solving the dreadful social and economic dilemmas that seemed to be facing the industry. They began construction of the Bourn & Wise Winery; probably the largest and most expensive stone winery to be built in California, if not the entire wine world. It was the first to use the newly discovered source of power called electricity and light bulbs to provide continuous and safe illumination after dark fell. What the partners offered was to build a facility in which they would crush the grapes and the participating growers could store their wine in their own space, until Bourn & Wise found a buyer at the price that grower could accept. The grower would be paid when Bourn & Wise were paid from the buyer. Alternatively, the grower could go ahead sell the grapes directly to Bourn & Wise for immediate payment. However, the growers were not fond of this method of resolving the agricultural crisis of the time and it was never implemented. In 1891, Wise sold his interest to Bourn. {The Bourn & Wise Winery probably became best known when it was under ownership of the California Wine Association, then by The Christian Brothers, and today by the Culinary Institute of America.} Charles Krug died in November of 1892, just a couple years shy of the formation of the great California Wine Association (CWA). The original membership in the Association consisted of the Napa Valley Wine Company (which included Charles Carpy and all of his holdings -- Uncle Sam winery, Greystone - now the Culinary Institute of America, and C. Carpy & Sons -- Krug and others), the four major wine broker-merchants located in San Francisco (Kohler & Frohling, Kohler and Van Bergen, S. Lachman & Co. and B. Dreyfus & Co.), and others. The formation of the CWA would ensure the failure of the Bourn and Wise scheme and thus their winery. Bourn himself had given up and sold “Greystone” to Charles Carpy in the year the CWA was formed, although the Bourn family continued to own their original family estate and winery south of St. Helena.
"PART TWO OF KRUG ESTATE -- THE JAMES K, MOFFITT ERA

PRELIMINARY DRAFT - HISTORY IN DEVELOPMENT
(last updated March 24, 2005)
Copyright by John M. Olney, February 12, 2005. All rights reserved.

Part 2 -- 2nd Krug Ranch Owner
James Kennedy Moffitt (Duration: 1892-1943)
(Now owned and operated by the Peter Mondavi Family)


Source(s):
(1) History of Napa Co. California, 1881, Slocum, Bowen & Co. Publishers;
(2) Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891;
(3) History of Napa County, Wallace, W. E., 1901, Enquirer Print;
(4) Wine Country - A history of Napa Valley - The early years: 1838-1920, Heintz, Wm., 1990, Capra Pres;
(5) Old Napa Valley - The History to 1900, Lin Weber, 1995, Wine Ventures Publishing;
(6) Harvests of Joy, Robert Mondavi, 1998, Harcourt Brace:
(7) American Vintage - The Rise of American Wine, Paul Lukacs, 2000, Houghton Mifflin Co.;
(8) website: oldandsold.com;
(9) website: Charleskrug.com

Charles Krug was in serious financial trouble in the mid-1880s and declared insolvent in the early 1890s, which led to the subsequent sale of the property. The deeds of this man are well documented and you might wonder why he was allowed to fail or why the winegrowing community didn’t come to his financial rescue? Well, it actually did. The list of his creditors included not only lending institutions but also most of the individual directors of the Bank of St. Helena who personally loaned him money. He had apparently used up every resource available to him but to no avail. The buyer of the insolvent Krug ranch as stipulated by Old and Sold Auctioneer web site literature was,“ his close friend and admirer, James K. Moffitt, who used the residence and gardens as a country home. The vineyards and winery were leased until Prohibition forced them into a dormant period.”

In the “Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California," The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891, it is said “He died in 1892, leaving only two daughters to carry on. They continued, with the help from a cousin, until Prohibition when the winery closed. It remained in the hands of a caretaker-owner until Cesare Mondavi bought the property in 1943." However, William F. Heintz, in his book “Wine Country - A History of Napa Valley” listed five siblings: “… Charles Jr., died in infancy, At Krug’s funeral daughters Linda, Anita and Lolita were present and a son Karl Krug (possibly with a middle name of Charles for he afterward went by that name).” My research to date has yet to reveal which two siblings were involved in the continued operations of the winegrowing operations. However the cousin that is mentioned was Bismark Bruck.

The uncle of the Krug children was Louis Bruck who died in 1881. Bruck was the second person for which Krug had made wine before starting his own winery, at which Louis later became Forman. Bruck married the other daughter - Isadora - of Dr. Edward Turner Bale and his wife, Maria Guadalupe Soberanes (Niece of General Vallejo). Of the children they produced, a son named Bismark Bruck eventually took over the position as Forman of the Krug ranch following in his father’s footsteps.

Who was this cousin, Bismark Bruck? His political career included being a three-time State Assemblyman, a member, and once Chairman, of the Napa Board of Supervisors, and member of the Board of Trustees (now called council persons) for St. Helena. Besides being manager of the Krug Winery, he owned his own grape juice company established in 1909. But he was more than just what these obituary-type summary comments describe. Bismark was instrumental in moving growers to graft foreign premium varietals on to Phylloxera-resistant American varietal rootstocks. He replanted the vines on the former Krug vineyards - renamed the Moffitt vineyards - and he sold bench grafts in the hundreds of thousands in the early 1900s.

His political abilities became important as the experiment called “Prohibition” approached. The 14-year period when the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution was enforced does not do justice to the actual strength of the movement. Long before January 18, 1920, when alcoholic beverages were banned, many communities - indeed whole states - had already adopted ordinances, which outlawed the consumption of alcohol. Maine went dry in 1851. Other states that was dry before the implementation of the 18th Amendment included Kansas, Georgia, Oklahoma, North Dakota, North Carolina, Mississippi and Tennessee. All of these states went dry between 1880 and 1909. The long arm of the temperance movement reached Napa in 1901. The spirit of Carrie Nation, member of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), who had just destroyed a saloon, inspired a similar act in Napa. Lin Weber, in her book, "Old Napa Valley - The History to 1900," reports that Carrie Nation’s act seemed to have encouraged a Dr. C. H. Farman of Napa to do a similar act in a downtown Napa saloon a few months later.

Bruck was one of the initial members of the Napa County Viticultural Protective Association formed around 1914. This organization was designed primarily to fight the “Drys” who were attempting to move California towards Prohibition as soon as possible and well before the 18th Amendment was to take force. There was also a California Grape Protective Association (CGPA) of which Bruck was a member. These were most difficult times for the alcoholic beverage makers whether it is distilled liquor, beer or wine. Hard booze was the primary culprit of the Drys, but beer and wine were being included in the temperance movement to stop all consumption of alcohol. It is here that the wine industry probably made their most critical error, which hurt all of the industry. In attempt to keep their own form of beverage available in the market place, the wine and beer producers began disassociating themselves from the distilled spirits producers. This pitted the alcohol beverage makers against each other thereby assisting the efforts of the “drys” to ban all alcoholic beverages.

The legitimate political movement towards making Napa “dry” started just as early as it did anywhere else on the continent. In the book, “History of Napa Co. California,” 1881, Slocum, Bowen & Co. Publishers reported that “At the general election in 1855, the question of the prohibition of liquor was submitted to the people, and the result in Napa County was; Prohibition --yes 198; Prohibition --no 205.” Napa County winegrowing industry got its second major scare in the election year of 1908. Heintz, in his book, “Wine Country - A History of Napa Valley “ cited that in north St. Helena, the Lodi precinct (area north of St. Helena) voted to go “dry.” Fortunately, this was a minority view as other precincts voted for “wet” status. However, in the 1912 election voting, the ever increasing popularity of the Dry movement could be seen as having grown significantly - about 40% of the county was willingly to see the wine industry terminated by Prohibition!

But, the Viticultural Protective Associations came too late to have the necessary impact to counter the dry’s movement. In 1917, in response to the national plan for the ongoing events of World War I, all production of alcohol from grain products had been outlawed because grains were needed for the war efforts. The law also disallowed importation of whiskey. However, Brandy could still be produced but the President of the United States was given the authority to halt production of alcohol for wine and beer products if he felt it necessary. As a consequence of these federal actions, California passed a law in the same year requiring all counties to reduce the numbers of saloons that could exist in each community. In her book mentioned previously, Lin Weber indicated that for Napa County this meant a reduction from 23 to only 12 saloons countywide. The law required that the lucky 12 saloons raise money to compensate those saloons that would have to close. The majority of the 12 surviving saloons were located in the town of Napa.

Just before the 18th Amendment went into effect, Bismark Bruck introduced legislation before the California Assembly that would cause a review of the winegrowing industry to determine the economic impact of Prohibition on that industry. This was done in hopes that all would receive some sort of compensation for the anticipated losses in business and their investments do date. But his efforts would fail to be carried. Meanwhile at Krug winery, Bruck was attempting to find a way to produce a nonalcoholic wine that would taste like wine. The experiments failed to produce favorable results and all but for a handful of wineries in the Northern California area, were shut down by the “Feds.”

Bismark Bruck was very active in the organization, the Native Sons Parlors of California. While he presided over it he spearheaded the restoration of the old Bale Gristmill, built in 1846, which was officially dedicated in 1925 as California historical site # 359. The mill and adjacent land had been deeded to the Native Sons of the Golden West by Mrs. William Whittingham Lyman (wife of the builder of what today is known as El Molino winery). The Federal listing was added in 1972 (Building #72000240). It is fortunate that Bismark was able to complete this effort, as the year 1926 was when he expired.

While Bruck was busy doing Napan business, the landlord of the Krug ranch property was very busy doing his Bay Area thing. James Kennedy Moffitt (JKM) was descendant from a wealthy San Franciscan family. He was born in 1865 to James Moffitt and Delia Kennedy. The senior James was a printer who became a member of Blake, Moffitt & Towne: a prominent San Franciscan firm. What really stimulated my interest to find out more about Moffitt was the wording in the quote from the Old and Sold Auctioneer web site literature that Moffitt was Krug’s “ ...close friend and admirer…” Add to this statement that which is made in the Peter Mondavi web site literature: "At Charles Krug's funeral in 1892, hundreds of mourners listened to Frederick Beringer deliver the eulogy in German. James Moffitt, a business associate of Charles Krug's and a San Francisco banker, took possession of the winery. Remarkably, Moffitt held onto the property through Prohibition, and began looking for a winemaking family to carry on in the spirit of Charles Krug. He found that pioneering spirit in Cesare and Rosa Mondavi, to whom he sold the winery in 1943 for $75,000.“

Robert Mondavi, in his autobiography, “Harvests of Joy,“ discusses the meeting at which he and his father, Cesare, meet with Moffitt, in San Francisco, at his office at the Crocker First National Bank back in 1943. Robert reports how he marveled at his father’s ability to negotiate. He recalled how the two older gentlemen discussed family businesses and the pleasure derived from having children to take over. Robert also recalled that Moffitt indicated that he really wanted to hold on to the Krug Ranch property but that none of his children nor their husbands desired to carry on the winegrowing business, thus he was a reluctant seller. Robert goes on to indicate that while his dad and Moffitt continued their discussions, Moffitt received a call from another interested buyer to whom Moffitt indicated that he had just sold the property to Cesare and his boys.

JFM, born in 1865, was about 21 years of age when he graduated from college in 1886. Krug was born in 1825 so he was about 61, or 40 years older than JFM when the later graduated from college. These age differences alone bring into question just how close these two men could have been. Add to this the fact that Krug died just six years after JKM graduated from college. Based on my research results to date, I suspect that the actual Moffitt that was close to Krug was not James Kennedy but rather his father, James. Since Krug was a reporter/editor for the first German newspaper on the west coast, I’m currently guessing that it was the paper business they brought Krug and the senior Moffitt together. My continuing research should confirm which gentleman was the one claimed to be a “business associate“ and “close friend and admirer” of Charles Krug.

James Kennedy Moffitt was a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley Campus, with a degree in Education (B.S. 1886), which was followed by the bestowment of a LL.D. (hon.) in 1941. Moffitt was an adventurer as evidenced by his association with the Sierra Club founded by John Muir, its first President in 1892. In the company of James S. Hutchinson and Robert D. Pike, on July 24, 1903, James ascended Mount Sill (14,100 approx.) and the next day he ascended North Palisade (14,254) with Joseph N. Le Conte (the second president of the Sierra Club) and James S. Hutchinson. These are the first recorded successful conquests of these Sierra Nevada Peaks.

Continuing in his father’s footsteps, JKM was an active officer and director in the paper-manufacturing firm of Blake, Moffitt & Towne. He was in the lucrative water business during the growth of the peninsula. The Bear Gulch Water Company was incorporated in 1889. This company grew and ended up providing water to the communities of Atherton, Menlo Park, Portola Valley, portions of Redwood City, and Woodside, all located on the peninsula in the San Mateo area. In 1903 the University of California purchased 80 percent of the stock of this company and by 1919, purchased the remaining shares. During a number of years while associated to the water company now owned by the University, Moffitt was a member of the U.C. Board of Regents. His first service included the period from 1924 to 1940. In 1934, JKM became President of the Bear Gulch Water Company. In June 15, 1936, the California Water Service Company acquired the properties of the Bear Gulch Water Company from the University. Moffitt then served on the Board of Regents again during the period 1941 to 1948. He served as Chairman of that Board during the period 1942-1948.

Moffitt’s involvement in the water rights on the peninsula parallel those of another man who operated a water company on the Peninsula and who also played a significant role in Napa Valley winegrowing. You may recall this man from Part One of my Krug series -- William Bowers Bourn, II (of Bourn & Wise winery-now the Culinary Institute of America). In 1908 Bourn held the majority interest in the Spring Valley Water Company controlling dams, reservoirs and pipeline systems distributed among five Bay Area counties. Bourn&