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Major Milestones


Peter Mondavi, Sr. in 1975

Charles Krug and the Peter Mondavi Family have spearheaded several important trends in the California wine industry. The following provides a summary of these milestones:

Winery and Wines

  • Charles Krug introduced the cider press to the Napa valley in 1858, a more efficient method of winemaking
  • First winery founded in the Napa Valley (1861) by Charles Krug that has endured for over 140 years
  • Charles Krug produced some of California's first varietally-labeled wines
  • One of the first California wineries to promote vintage-dated varietal wines
  • Peter Mondavi, Sr. developed and introduced the use of cold sterile filtration for off-dry white wines
  • Peter Mondavi, Sr. developed and introduced glass-lined tanks
  • Produced California's first winery consumer newsletter, Bottles & Bins in 1949
  • Introduced in 1951 Tastings on the Lawn — an annual series of summer afternoon events hosted by the Family with wine, food and music on the Carriage House Lawn
  • Introduced French oak barrels to the Napa Valley in 1963

Vineyards

  • Charles Krug planted the second vineyard in the St. Helena area (23 acres) to the Mission variety in 1861
  • Recognizing that premium wines can only be produced from Vinifera (European grape varieties), Charles Krug used only Vinifera for all subsequent plantings.
  • Charles Krug was the first vintner to purchase and develop vineyard land in the Howell Mountain area of the Napa Valley
  • Wary of recommendations to use AXR1 rootstock, Peter Mondavi, Sr. planted to Rupestris St. George and other rootstocks in the 1960's and 1970's, which allowed the winery to avoid costly replanting due to phylloxera damage in the 1980's and 1990's
  • One of the first pioneers to plant the Carneros region to vineyards, Peter Mondavi, Sr., demonstrated that Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Merlot grown in this area will produce exceptional wines

Industry Leadership

  • 1875: Charles Krug founded the St. Helena Viticultural Society
  • 1879: Charles Krug formed the Napa and Sonoma Wine Company with other producers to improve the quality of wine shipped to the East Coast
  • 1880's: Charles Krug was the Napa District Representative on the Board of State Viticultural Commissioners, advocating vertical, wire trellising and unconventional 3.5' x 14' vine spacing
  • 1947: Peter Mondavi, Sr. helped to found the Napa Valley Technical Group to share knowledge and information with vintner members
  • 1995: Peter Mondavi, Sr. was honored by the Napa Valley Vintners Association as one of 12 "living legends" of the Napa Valley