I enjoyed this film, realizing in a post-showing debrief with a friend that some prior knowledge of champagne history would have helped him (a wine industry veteran) understand the exploding bottles, burning fires in the vineyard, intense interest in upside down bottle necks accelerating time to market, lengthy and repeated blending sessions…
Without taking away from contributions of any producer here, long before 1987, Jack and Jamie Davies were true pioneers in 1965, being the first to make methode Champenoise style, as they do in the Champagne. Not only the first in Napa Valley, but in the U.S.. They were the first to use Chardonnay in production (they initially used the only Chard grown in Napa at the time, a little bit grown experimentally at Krug). While many may credit Jack as the winemaker, Jamie was totally involved every step of the way. They did not have the support of an established company in France to launch their winery, but they did go to the great Houses of Champagne repeatedly to gain the skills necessary for making their product as true to the traditional method as possible, including aging in caves and, of course, riddling by hand. Jamie ran Schramsberg as a widow after Jack's passing in 1998 before handing the reins to son Hugh several years later. Cheers to our first women winemakers!
Beautiful story on wine and tenaciousness of an important woman of wine. Love wine history the century’s old events shaped how we all got here currently. Read every word and well done! Thanks!
Will definitely include Domaine Carneros among destination wineries when friends visit. Great story!
I enjoyed this film, realizing in a post-showing debrief with a friend that some prior knowledge of champagne history would have helped him (a wine industry veteran) understand the exploding bottles, burning fires in the vineyard, intense interest in upside down bottle necks accelerating time to market, lengthy and repeated blending sessions…
Without taking away from contributions of any producer here, long before 1987, Jack and Jamie Davies were true pioneers in 1965, being the first to make methode Champenoise style, as they do in the Champagne. Not only the first in Napa Valley, but in the U.S.. They were the first to use Chardonnay in production (they initially used the only Chard grown in Napa at the time, a little bit grown experimentally at Krug). While many may credit Jack as the winemaker, Jamie was totally involved every step of the way. They did not have the support of an established company in France to launch their winery, but they did go to the great Houses of Champagne repeatedly to gain the skills necessary for making their product as true to the traditional method as possible, including aging in caves and, of course, riddling by hand. Jamie ran Schramsberg as a widow after Jack's passing in 1998 before handing the reins to son Hugh several years later. Cheers to our first women winemakers!
The Davies were the best! Amen
Beautiful story on wine and tenaciousness of an important woman of wine. Love wine history the century’s old events shaped how we all got here currently. Read every word and well done! Thanks!