Chateau Montelena facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chateau Montelena |
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| Location | Calistoga, California, United States |
| Appellation | Calistoga AVA Napa Valley AVA |
| Other labels | Potter Valley |
| Founded | 1882 |
| Key people | Bo Barrett, CEO Matt Crafton, Winemaker Jock Busser, National Sales Manager Cameron Wolfe, Vineyard Manager |
| Cases/yr | 30,000–36,000 |
| Varietals | Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling |
| Distribution | national |
| Tasting | open to the public |
| Website | www.montelena.com |
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Alfred L. Tubbs Winery
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| NRHP reference No. | 12001235 |
| Added to NRHP | January 30, 2013 |
Chateau Montelena is a famous winery located in Napa Valley, California. It became well-known for winning a big wine competition called the "Judgment of Paris".
In this competition, Chateau Montelena's Chardonnay wine competed against nine other wines. These wines came from both France and California. All 11 judges gave their highest scores to the Chardonnays from Chateau Montelena or Chalone Winery. A movie called Bottle Shock (2008) tells a story based on this famous win.
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History of Chateau Montelena
Early Days with Alfred Tubbs
In 1882, a businessman named Alfred L. Tubbs bought a large piece of land. It was about 254 acres, located north of Calistoga. Tubbs had earned a lot of money from his rope business during the Gold Rush. He knew the area from visiting a nearby resort.
Tubbs started planting grapevines on his new land. By 1896, Chateau Montelena had grown quite a bit. It was the seventh largest winery in the Napa Valley.
Later, during Prohibition in the United States, making wine became illegal. So, the winery stopped making wine. The Tubbs family then sold grapes instead of making wine. In 1958, the Tubbs family sold the Chateau. A Chinese electrical engineer named Yort Wing Frank and his wife Jeanie bought it. They wanted it as a place to retire.
The Franks created a beautiful garden on the property. It was designed in the style of their homeland. They also dug out a lake, which they named Jade Lake. Today, this Chinese garden is a popular spot for picnics. However, only members of the Chateau wine club can visit it.
New Beginnings with the Paschich Family
In 1968, Lee and Helen Paschich bought the property. They brought in partners, including lawyer James L. Barrett. Barrett replanted the vineyard and set up new equipment. The winery started making wines again in 1972.
Mike Grgich was hired as the winemaker. He also helped design the winery. Four years later, in 1976, something amazing happened. The Chateau Montelena 1973 Chardonnay won first place. This was at the "Judgment of Paris" wine competition. A bottle of this famous wine is now kept in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.
In 2004, there were some concerns about the wine's quality. Some people thought the wines had a problem with their smell or taste. After tests confirmed this, Jim Barrett announced steps to fix the issue. They worked to make sure the wines were perfect again.
San Francisco Tasting Room
Since late 2011, Chateau Montelena has a special tasting room in San Francisco. It is located inside The Westin St. Francis hotel in Union Square. This allows more people to try their wines.
See also
