The Origin of Bordeaux Varieties in California
Cabernet Sauvignon is the first grape we think of when you mention the California wine industry. Having been deeply rooted in the success of this states wine cultivation, we often have to think back and realized that this coveted grape was introduced to these early settlers from the famous French region of Bordeaux. Now the 2nd most planted grape in the state, just followed by Chardonnay (Originally from Burgundy), Cabernet Sauvignon makes up over 15% of vines planted in California.
Grapevines in California date back to the 1700’s when Missionary Father Junipero Serra planted vines spread across his nine missions. The grapes were used mostly for religious purposes and included cuttings from Baja that originated from the south of Europe. This grape variety was labeled the Mission grape and became the dominant grape around the Los Angeles area.
It wasn’t until Jean Louis Vignes, a Frenchman from Bordeaux, imported French cuttings Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc to Los Angeles in the 1830’s, enabling him to produce wine far superior to that of the padres’ Mission Grapes. Perhaps Jean Louis was craving our Bordeaux Blanc Chateau Matard when he set sail. As his wine became more noteworthy, many of the new wine producers up north caught attention to the new European grape varieties. The first documented instance of importation of Cabernet Sauvignon to California occurred in 1852, when Antoine Delmas, French nurserymen, brought the French vines (including vines from Medoc) to the Santa Clara Valley. A must try representation of Medoc from our portfolio is the Haut Valeyrac made my Pierre Yves Joannon.
As the mid 1800’s approached, American’s were obsessed with Bordeaux wines and wine producers wanted to learn and adopt their practices. It was Captain J.H. Drummond who planted the first significant Bordeaux Vineyard including Cabernet Sauvignon, in the North Coast in Sonoma County in 1878 and Hamilton Walker Crabb brought Cabernet to his vineyards in Napa the same year. At this time, Cabernet started making its way to all the major pioneers in Napa and Sonoma. However, Inglenook was the most successful in its early stage at producing outstanding Bordeaux wines. In 1889 they received a silver medal at the Paris World Fair beginning the explosion of California Cabernet. Between 1880 to 1890 Napa wine acreage expanded from 3,500 acres to 18,500 acres.
Since then, our two regions have greatly been intertwined. From the famous California winners of the 1976 Judgment of Paris to the bond between Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild in the creation of Opus One. Next time you reach for a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or a Bordeaux Blend from California, remember where these varieties originated. If a Merlot heavy blend is what you prefer over a Cabernet heavy wine we would also like to introduce you to the most famous wine Village in the world: Saint Emilion. The place where the prestigious Chateau Cheval Blanc, Chateau Ausone, Chateau Angelus and Chateau Pavie lead the way, along with their neighbors from Pomerol (Chateau Pétrus and Chateau Le Pin). Our prized representations of Saint Emilion Grand Cru, Chateau Vieux Faurie, incarnates this unique terroir, while our natural wine made by Chateau Font Merlet bests any collectors’ expectations from Bordeaux Superieur.