Napa Valley Wineries: Charles Krug Winery

The Peter Mondavi Family is ushering in a new era at Charles Krug Winery without losing sight of the winery's history. Charles Krug Winery was the first winery in the Napa Valley founded by the young Prussian immigrant Charles Krug in 1861. His leadership was said to be inspirational, and his ideas innovative as he became a major figure and influence in the Valley, introducing the cider press for winemaking, careful selection of rootstocks, varietals and vineyard sites and other innovations that benefited the young California wine industry. After his death, James Moffitt purchased the winery and held onto the property through Prohibition.

In 1943, Cesare and Rosa Mondavi, bought the winery for $75,000. Cesare Mondavi at 60 years old then spearheaded a dramatic renaissance in the decade that followed. Wine historian Charles Sullivan writes in his book, Napa Wine, ‘By the early 1950's it was irrefutable that the Valley's Big Four had been augmented by one – the Charles Krug Winery’.

Cesare’s sons, Robert and Peter, assisted in the operation of the winery and in 1966, Peter became President. His industry innovations included from his studies at Stanford revolutionary research on cold fermentation, enabling the production of exceptionally crisp, fruity white wines. His pioneering efforts to plant vineyards in the Carneros region, cold sterile filtration techniques and aging wine in small French oak barrels contributed to his being named one of the twelve ‘living legends’ in Napa Valley’s history by the Napa Valley Vintners Association.

Above all else, Charles Krug Winery is a family winery as the third generation illustrates. In 1999, Peter, Sr. and his sons Marc and Peter, Jr., embarked on another era at Charles Krug Winery with a nine year investment program. Over 200 of the winery's 850 vineyard acres in Napa Valley have been replanted and the winery operates with state of the art winemaking equipment.

Charles Krug
12800 Main Street, PO Box 191
St. Helena, CA 94574
707- 967-2200

Website: http://www.charleskrug.com