American Wine History Flashcards
Who was Leiv Eriksson? What did he call it? When?
First European to land on North America.
He called it Vinland due to either the greenness of the place or the abundance of local grapes.
800’s
What law happened in Jamestown? When? What happened?
1619 Virginia Law required that every Jamestown male colonist tend at least 10 vines. Efforts failed due to diseases and phylloxera.
What was Thomas Jefferson’s impact on American Wine?
Thomas Jefferson was dubbed the “father of the US wine industry” due to his outspoken advocacy of it and his purchases of french wine.
Thomas Jefferson planted two vineyards of vinifera at his Monticello Estate but failed to produce a single bottle after 30 years.
Early western vinifera success.
The mission grape was introduced to Mexico in the 1500’s and traveled north to Rio Grande settlements in the Texas/New Mexico area as early as 1629.
in 1823 Franciscan Monks built San Francisco de Solano Mission in today’s town square of Sonoma. The last and northernmost mission of America.
When were the first vines planted in Napa and by whom?
1839 George Yount came to Napa as the 1st US settler and planted the first vineyard.
Who was Agoston Haraszthy? When did he arrive to Sonoma?
Agoston Haraszthy was a Hungarian self appointed count that arrived to Sonoma in 1849 and founded Buena Vista - one of California’s oldest commercial wineries.
What is Agoston Haraszthy known for?
Agoston Haraszthy is known as the “father of California wine” and introduced 300+ varietals.
He was the ultimate badass and was killed by alligators in Nicaragua.
When and where did Charles Krug move to in Napa Valley?
1861 Charles Krug, who worked for Haraszthy, moved to St. Helena and founded his iconic winery. The oldest in Napa Valley.
When did Jacob Schram open his winery?
1862 Jacob Schram built Schramsberg.
When did Beringer start?
Beringer started in 1876 and is Napa’s oldest continuous operating winery.
Who is Gustav Niebaum?
A Finnish immigrant who started Inglenook Winery in 1879.
When did phylloxera hit Sonoma the first time?
1873
Mondavi 1960’s quick facts.
1966 Robert Mondavi left Charles Krug after a family feud, and had his first harvest.
1968 Robert Mondavi boosted sales of Sauvignon Blanc by calling it “Fumé Blanc” and aging it in oak.
When was the Judgement of Paris and what was the idea behind it?
1976 Steven Spurrier organized a blind tasting as a contest with American producers vs French counterparts.
What wines and vintage won at the Judgement of Paris?
1973 Stags Leap Cellars Cabernet and 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay.
