Grace Family Vineyards
| Grace Family Vineyards | |
|---|---|
| Location | Saint Helena, California, United States |
| Appellation | Napa Valley |
| Other labels | Blank |
| First vines planted | 1976 |
| First vintage | 1978 |
| Key people | Kirk Grace |
| Cases/yr | 500 |
| Varietal | Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Other products | Olive oil |
| Website | http://www.gracefamilyvineyards.com |
The Grace Family Vineyards is a vineyard and winery in Napa, California. It is the first American winery to use the word "family" in its name.[1]
History
The winery began when Ann and Dick Grace planted 1 acre (0.40 ha) of vines in 1976. The first vintage was produced in 1978, at Chuck Wagner's winery, Caymus.[2] A second acre was added in 1985, but phylloxera took its toll, as the winery's vines were planted on non-resistant rootstock.[3] Additional problems with oak root fungus in the original acre caused the need to replant the entirety in 1995.[4] The winery's yield dropped from 350 cases in the to a low of 48 cases in 1996, when the wine was allocated as one 1-liter bottle per customer on the winery's mailing list. Another acre of planting and re-planted vines in the old acreage brought production up to 150 cases in 1998.[3]
Charity
The winery's mission statement is "Wine as a catalyst towards healing our planet." The programs of the Grace Family Vineyards Foundation are primarily in India, Nepal, Mexico, Tibet, and America.[1]
Grace Family wines has been involved with the Naples Winter Wine Festival since its first year in 2001. In 2006, a 12-liter Balthazar of 2003 Grace Family Cabernet drew $90,000 ($106 thousand in 2016 dollars[5]) in bids at the festival's charity auction.[6] For the 2012 charity auction, a Balthazar of both Grace Family and their second label, Blank, drew a $160,000 ($165 thousand in 2016 dollars[5]) bid.[7]
Vineyard and winemaking
The Grace Family properties are organic and biodynamically farmed.[1]
Gary Galleron was head winemaker between 1988 and 1995, when Heidi Peterson Barrett took over winemaking duties.[4] Barrett, in turn, turned over duties to Gary Brookman.[2]
References
- 1 2 3 "Grace Family Vineyards". Dean & Deluca. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
- 1 2 "History". Grace Family Vineyards. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
- 1 2 Morgan, Jeff (12 Apr 1999). "Grace Family Vineyards Confronts Wine Shortage with New Bottle". Wine Spectator. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
- 1 2 Clark, Carolyn Stewart. "Grace Family Vineyards". AtlasOfWineries.com. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
- 1 2 Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
- ↑ "Winery News". Grace Family Vineyards. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
- ↑ Albers, Katherine; Laura Layden (28 January 2012). "Naples Winter Wine Festival ends; $107 million overall, $12.2 million today". Naples Daily News. Retrieved 16 July 2012.