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NAPA VALLEY HISTORY

THE QUIET BEGINNING

The planting of vineyards appeared in California as early as the 1700’s. California Missions had always grown grapes but the Missionaries grew field blends (mixture of different grape vines) and it wasn’t until later that true varietal vineyards appeared. With the infrastructure provided by the missions, the interest in growing grapes and wine-making by the local farmers, it soon become a major crop in the area. The vineyards appeared in the Napa Valley with great celebration. Although it was not a huge money crop, it added a cultural interest for the area. European influences came into California, mainly in southern California. These vineyards flourished and it wasn’t long before wine grapes found their way to Napa Valley.

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JW Osbourne, George Yount (Yountville) were credited with the start of the the first plantings of wine grapes in the Oak Knoll district of Napa Valley. John Patchett is credited with establishing the first official vineyard and winery in Napa. It turns out that Charles Krug was the winemaker who was to go on to establish his own winery in 1861. Peter and Robert Mondavi were to eventually start their wine making careers with Krug. So the legend of Napa Valley begins. All this occurred in the first half of the 19th century but there was more to come. Napa Valley flourished in the coming years and was to become a world class force in the art of making wine.

Breaking Through

More wineries were established.  Crabb planted the famous Kalon Vineyard which Robert Mondavi was to own in the future. The excitement grew and more vines were planted. More wineries were established and more wine was produced. And then Phylloxera, the depression and prohibition stifled the wine. Phylloxera, a parasite native to California, attacked the roots of the grape vines. The depression in the 1880’s took a toll on prices in the vineyards. Finally, the radical Volstead act was passed in 1919. The diseased vines were replanted and desperate grape growers went broke or sold. Sacramental wine which was legal provided the mask to underground bootlegging. The Christian Brothers are still in the Valley, their retreat tucked in the mountain high in Napa valley.  This period many curves but it was clear that wine country was breaking through.

NAPA VALLEY: HERE AND NOW

Robert Mondavi left Charles Krug, the family winery, to go on and establish his own. He collaborated with the Rothschilds of France in creating a world famous Red Table Wine “Opus One”, reminiscent of those great Boudreaux wines of France, but California grown. The race was on. From there Robert was to to be very influential in making Napa Valley a place of world stature. In the Paris Tasting of 1976, a number of Napa wines took awards. Napa Valley now sat in the top hierarchy of wine growing regions in the world. Since Mondavi, the new fold of vineyards churn with exciting discovery of new wines. Tempered by a challenging economy, Napa valley seems to continue on a path to greatness. Napa Valley pours it’s way into our psyche. Barrel up and uncork your pleasure. Napa vineyards flourish and their wines will continue to be celebrated. Santé.