CALIFORNIAN
Uncovering the Fascinating History of Wine
Spanish Franciscan Missionaries planted grapevines in the States starting in California. In 1919, the sale of alcohol was declared illegal in the United States, so many American families began making their own wine at home. in 1976, California producers and their wines participated in a blind tasting where California wines were compared to French wines. The judges were all French, so it was a shock when California wines took first place in both competition categories: chardonnays and reds. The results of the so-called “Judgment of Paris” were reported in Time Magazine.
Cabernet Sauvignon - 14.5%. Alc. Vol.
OPUS ONE
Opus One, one of the most famous wineries in California and in the world. The union of Old and New World and the perfect fusion of two legendary wine producers, Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild, created Opus One in 1980. Highly rated by critics, each vintage sells out immediately.
Cabernet Sauvignon - 14.5%. Alc. Vol.
Screaming Eagle
In 1986, Jean Phillips bought the winery, which consisted of a mixture of grape varieties. Jean decided to sell most of it to local wineries and keep a small parcel of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc vines. The first bottle of the 1992 was released in 1995. Wine critic Robert Parker rated the wine 99 points. In 2006 Stan Kroenke and Charles Banks bought the winery and since 2009 Stan Kroenke has been the sole owner of the winery. The first bottle of Sauvignon Blanc of the 2010 vintage is produced only in a few cases per year.
Cabernet Sauvignon - 14.5%. Alc. Vol.
HARLAN ESTATE
It began a few years before 1984, when Bill Harlen and Robert Mondavi travelled to Bordeaux and Burgundy to develop the idea of first-growth wine. In 1987 Bill had his first harvest, but the results were not what he expected, it was the 1990 vintage that first came to market, Harlen Estate became one of the best California wines. The vines are planted on the hill and grow Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot.
