Trefethen Vineyards facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Trefethen Family Vineyards |
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| Location | Napa, California, USA |
| Appellation | Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley AVA |
| Formerly | Eshcol |
| Founded | 1968 |
| First vintage | 1973 |
| Key people | John, Janet, Lorenzo & Hailey Trefethen Jon Ruel, President Bryan Kays, Winemaker David Whitehouse, Winemaster |
| Known for | Estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Varietals | Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Sauvignon Blanc, Red Blend, Petit Verdot |
| Other products | Olive Oil, Fig Jam, Orange Marmalade |
| Distribution | national, restaurants |
| Tasting | open to public |
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Eshcol Winery
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 Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1160 Oak Knoll Ave., Napa, California |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1886 |
| Built by | Hamden W. McIntyre |
| NRHP reference No. | 87001155 |
| Added to NRHP | July 16, 1987 |
| Website | http://www.trefethen.com |
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Trefethen Family Vineyards is a famous place in Napa Valley, California, where grapes are grown to make wine. It was started in 1968 by the Trefethen family.
Contents
History of Trefethen Vineyards
The story of Trefethen Family Vineyards began with an older winery called Eshcol. This name means "lush cluster of grapes" in the Bible. The original Eshcol winery building was built in 1886. It was designed by a Scottish sea captain named Hamden McIntyre.
How the Old Winery Worked
The Eshcol winery used a special "gravity-flow" system. This meant grapes were brought to the top floor. Gravity then helped the juice flow down through different levels. This system was very clever for its time.
During a period known as Prohibition in the United States, it was illegal to make alcohol. However, the vineyards kept growing grapes. These grapes were used to make wine for religious ceremonies. This helped the vineyards survive.
By 1940, the old winery building was not being used. In 2014, a big earthquake in South Napa caused a lot of damage to the Eshcol building. It took more than two years to fix and improve the historic structure.
The Trefethen Family's Role
In 1968, Eugene Trefethen and his wife Katie bought the Eshcol property. They also bought six other nearby lands. This created what is now Trefethen Vineyards. They started replanting the vineyards and fixing up the old winery building.
Their hard work was recognized in 1988. The United States government added the winery to the National Register of Historic Places. It was special because it was the only 19th-century wooden winery that used gravity-flow still standing in Napa County.
Katie Trefethen also created a beautiful garden at the winery. This garden became very famous and attracted many people who loved gardening. Eugene Trefethen passed away in 1996, and Katie Trefethen passed away in 2007.
Awards and Recognition
Trefethen Family Vineyards has won important awards for its wines.
Winning the Wine Olympics
In 1979, a big competition called the "Wine Olympics" was held. A French magazine called Gault Millau organized it. Many wines from different countries were judged by experts.
Trefethen Vineyards' 1976 Chardonnay wine won first place in its category. It was even judged as the best Chardonnay in the world! This was a huge achievement for the winery.
