Timeline of Schramsberg
Our previous coverage:
http://www.whomyouknow.com/2010/02/whom-you-know-celebrates-our-3000th.html
http://www.whomyouknow.com/2010/02/whom-you-know-celebrated-our-3000th.html
1862 Jacob Schram purchases 200 acre Mt. Diamond property from the government and begins development of Napa hillside vineyards. Herman Adolph Schram is born.
http://www.whomyouknow.com/2010/02/whom-you-know-celebrates-our-3000th.html
http://www.whomyouknow.com/2010/02/whom-you-know-celebrated-our-3000th.html
1862 Jacob Schram purchases 200 acre Mt. Diamond property from the government and begins development of Napa hillside vineyards. Herman Adolph Schram is born.
1869 The Transcontinental Railroad is completed, creating a surplus of Chinese laborers in the San Francisco area.
1870 Schramsberg has 30,000 vines; Chinese laborers dig Napa’s first hillside caves for wine-aging and storage.
1875 Schram Victorian mansion with stately veranda completed on vineyard site.
1880 Author Robert Louis Stevenson visits Schramsberg. Descriptions of his stay are recorded in his book, Silverado Squatters. Schramsberg produces 8,403 cases of wine from 50 acres of vines.
1881 Construction for second set of cellar tunnels begins. In the past 17 years, Schramsberg winery has pressed 87, 237 cases of wine.
1890 Schramsberg produces 540,000 lbs of grapes (approx. 28,361 cases of wine) from 100 acres of grapes.
1891 Wines produced at Schramsberg listed as Zinfandel, Sauvignon Vert, and Burgundy, Hock, Sauterne and Riesling style of wines. Schramsberg Riesling served to President Harrison at Palace Hotel in San Francisco.
1905 Jacob Schram dies. Property inherited by son, Herman.
1912 The winery cease operation and is sold.
1957 Schramsberg is declared a Historical Monument by the California Historical Society.
1965 200 acre Schramsberg property purchased by Jack and Jamie Davies, who had moved to the Napa Valley, with young sons Bill and John, from Los Angeles where Jack had held executive positions at such companies as Ducommon, Inc., Fibreboard Corporation, Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation. Jamie had earlier owned an art gallery in San Francisco after receiving a degree from U.C. Berkeley. First crush of grapes under the Davies proprietorship of Schramsberg Vineyards and Cellars. Crush included the sole use of Chardonnay from the Charles Krug winery for Champagne; an innovation in the United States. It used the traditional Méthode Champenoise style of winemaking to produce premium quality sparkling wines. Hugh Davies is born the month after the family took over the winery.
1967 Schramsberg produces vintage dated Blanc de Noirs of Pinot Noir grapes, an innovation in the United States.
1968 Introduced Cuvée de Gamay of Napa Gamay grape, vintage dated and Brut Rosé an innovation in the United States. Napa Valley Agricultural Preserve established. Jack Davies helped spearhead the passage of the nation’s first such agricultural preserve.
1972 Introduced Crémant Demi-Sec, produced from the Flora grape in a creamy, less effervescent style and vintage dated; an innovation in the United States. April 28: Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs 1969 served at the State dinner “Toast to Peace” hosted by President Richard Nixon for the Premier Chou En-lai in Beijing, China. This is the first time Schramsberg or any American wine is served at any White House or State event, at home or abroad.
1980 Schramsberg Reserve introduced: vintage dated, aged on the yeast 4 years before disgorging, yet another innovation in the United States.
1985 Nineteenth Century 20 acre McEachran Winery Estate (contiguous with Schramsberg) purchased. This reunites under single ownership these two historical California properties. First use of barrel fermentation in production of Schramsberg sparkling wines. Schramsberg wins first Wine Spectator Critic’s Choice award. State Dinner at The White House with Schramsberg Cuvée de Pinot served for Prince Charles and Princess Diana of Great Britain.
1987 Schramsberg served at official banquet in San Francisco honoring Pope John Paul II. Sourcing of grapes from cooler coastal sites for sparkling wines begins in earnest. First non-Napa fruit used at Schramsberg.
1990 Schramsberg 1986 Crémant Demi-Sec served at the luncheon to honor President Mikhail Gorbachev at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. Anderson Valley fruit in Mendocino County added to mix of vineyard sources.
1992 Schramsberg’s J. Schram, America’s first Tête de Cuvée, is introduced in London.
1994 The replanting of the winery’s historic Diamond Mountain property to Cabernet Sauvignon and the red Bordeaux varietals begins. Crémant Demi-sec served at dinner for the 30th Anniversary of Special Olympics featuring President and Mrs. Bill Clinton, Whoopi Goldberg, Jon Bon Jovi, Eric Clayton and Sheryl Crow.
1996 Hugh Davies joins Schramsberg with a master’s degree in Enology from U.C. Davis. First red Bordeaux style wines made at winery. Jack and Jamie presented James Beard Foundation’s National “Outstanding Wine and Spirits” Award.
1998 Jack Davies passes away and Jamie becomes Chairman of the company. Bill Davies joins the Company’s Board of Directors. Jack L. Davies Napa Valley Agricultural Land Preservation Fund established. Schramsberg Querencia Napa Valley Rosé produced with the proceeds going to the fund. The first “Sparkling Wine Symposium” is offered for members of the trade. This will eventually be renamed as Camp Schramsberg and opens up to consumers as well.
1999-2000 Special Schramsberg Millennium cuvees released including 1988 Blanc de Noirs late disgorged, 1990 J. Schram late disgorged. Hugh Davies becomes Head Winemaker.
2003 Schramsberg 1996 J. Schram voted “Best Overall Wine and Best Sparkling Wine” at Sydney International Wine Competition. This was the first time that an American wine, or a sparkling wine, have ever won these two awards.
2004 First vintage of J. Davies Diamond Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon (2001) released. The wine is named in honor of Jack Davies. Davies family chairs the Napa Valley Wine Auction. Hugh Davies marries Monique Nelson in the olive grove on the estate.
2005 Schramsberg celebrates 40th Anniversary with a series of special dinners across the country and releasing of 1994 Late Disgorged Blanc de Blancs, Blanc de Noirs and Reserve. Hugh is named as CEO/President of Schramsberg Vineyards and Jamie remains chairman. Hugh Davies elected President of the Napa Valley Vintners Association.
2006 Third vintage of J. Davies (2003) was released in April. Debut of J. Schram Rosé (1998) released September 15. Jamie and Hugh receive the COPIA Wine Award’s Lifetime Achievement Award. New production building is completed.
2007 Schramsberg 2005 Brut Rosé is served at the White House State Dinner honoring Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. 10th year of Camp Schramsberg , 3-day sparkling wine camp, and the first-ever Spring camp, which included a pruning seminar and base-wine blending along with additional food and wine pairing seminars by the Culinary Institute of America. Schramsberg launches the Riddler’s Circle.
2008 Matriarch Jamie Davies passes away. The oak grove in the lower vineyard is dedicated as “Jack and Jamie’s Grove.” New Visitor Center is completed. NASA Astronaut Ken Ham pilots the Space Shuttle Discovery on its 26th mission to the International Space Station with Schramsberg labels and corks in his pocket. The 2000 J. Schram Rosé is released, marking the second offering of this signature vintage wine.
