On May 24th, 1976, an event took place that significantly influenced the perception of American wine quality—the Judgement of Paris. This blind tasting was organized in France by a British wine critic specializing in French wines. This wine merchant, Steven Spurrier, did not anticipate that American wine would present significant competition to its French counterparts. Together with Patricia Gallagher, Spurrier gathered a panel composed of winemakers, sommeliers, and journalists. When the results were announced, they revealed a surprising outcome: California wines from Chateau Montelena and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars received top honors for their Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, respectively.
While this wine victory kickstarted the American devotion to a dream, these prized vines are not native to the United States. The story of the vine’s arrival to our soil is an even more intriguing narrative. Vitis vinifera is a grapevine species commonly used for producing wine. Archaeologists have found evidence of vinifera vines dating back to 6000 B.C.E. near an archaeological site in the village of Imiri, located in present-day Georgia.
Over the next several thousand years these cultivars, plants that are propagated through human intervention to develop a desirable characteristic, made their journey westward from southwestern Asia throughout the Mediterranean with the help of the Phocaean civilization (Greeks from Asia Minor). These seafaring adventurers introduced the vine to France around 600 B.C.E. France served as the birthplace for new grape varieties over many centuries providing us with hundreds, if not thousands, of Vitis vinifera variations that we currently enjoy today, including the trophied Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Upon arrival in the New World, Viking warriors with animal heads encountered an abundance of indigenous vines and subsequently named North America "Vinland" due to their prevalence. The earliest recorded wine production by settlers occurred around 1560 in Jacksonville, Florida. However, the native vine species were not conducive for producing high-quality wine. Virginia served as the initial trial region for cultivating Vitis vinifera, but it was in modern-day New Mexico where successful cultivation and fine vine growth were ultimately achieved. The introduction of vines by Spanish missionaries in 1629 established New Mexico as the earliest wine-producing region in the United States. The grape variety that thrived was Mission, which subsequently spread to California. The state’s first vineyards and winery were established near San Diego in the late 1700s. As missionaries moved north, vines reached Napa Valley in the mid-1800s. Charles Krug opened the first bonded winery of Napa in 1861. It took just over a century for California to bring home the trophy from Paris and the rest is history.
As always, at JP’s, we love to recommend new and exciting adventures in a bottle. Come see us and explore our offerings from around the globe. Cheers!
By: Brian Henderson, CSW, FWS, Advanced Sommelier, JP’s Wine & Spirits
