Charles Krug

Charles Krug
Born	1825 Prussia
Died	1892
Known for	One of the original commercial winemakers in the Napa Valley

Charles Krug (1825-1892) was among the original pioneers of winemaking in the Napa Valley, and was the founder of the winery of the same name. Krug immigrated to the United States from Prussia in 1851 and served as an apprentice winemaker for both Agoston Haraszthy and then John Patchett before establishing his own winery. Krug married Carolina Bale, the daughter of early Napa Valley pioneer and miller Edward Turner Bale, on December 26, 1860.^[1] The dowry Bale left for her included 20 acres (0.08 km²) of land north of St. Helena, California, on which Krug planted a vineyard and founded his winery in 1861. Historically, Charles Krug introduced innovative ideas in winemaking to California. He began making wine using a cider press^[2], carefully selected rootstocks, varietals and vineyard sites. The knowledge he gained and shared benefited the young California wine industry.^[3][4][5]

Following Krug's death, James Moffitt Sr. purchased the winery in 1894. In 1943, Robert Mondavi persuaded his parents, Cesare and Rosa Mondavi, to purchase the inactive winery from Moffitt for $75,000.^[6] Robert Mondavi began his wine career there, until he founded his own winery in 1966. The winery still exists, and is owned by Robert's younger brother Peter Mondavi and Peter's family.^[7] Krug was inducted into the Culinary Institute of America's Vintner's Hall of Fame in 2007.^[8]

References

1. ^ Davis, Kip (September 15, 2011). "Peter Mondavi leads Krug’s 150th anniversary celebration". Napa Valley Register (Napa, CA: Lee Enterprises, Inc.). http://napavalleyregister.com/lifestyles/food-and-cooking/wine/peter-mondavi-leads-krug-s-th-anniversary-celebration/article_94d0aed4-e013-11e0-8abb-001cc4c002e0.html. Retrieved October 2, 2011. 
2. ^ Palmer, Lyman L. (Slocum, Bowen & Co., 1881). History of Napa and Lake Counties, California: Comprising Their Geography, Geology, Topography, Climatography, Springs and Timber. San Francisco: Slocum, Bowen & Co.. pp. 203. http://books.google.com/books?id=8skOAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA211&dq=%22Charles+Krug%22+cider+press&hl=en&ei=kEOJTuHJJIjQiALr-Oi5DA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CHgQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=%22Charles%20Krug%22%20cider%20press&f=false. 
3. ^ Brennan, Nancy (2010-11-21). "John Patchett: Introducing one of Napa’s pioneers". Napa Valley Register. http://napavalleyregister.com/lifestyles/real-napa/article_b2750390-f509-11df-9ea4-001cc4c03286.html. Retrieved 2011-01-02. 
4. ^ Heeger, Jack (December 7, 2004). "A peek at Napa Valley's hidden past". Napa Valley Register/American Canyon Eagle (Napa, CA: Lee Enterprises, Inc.). http://napavalleyregister.com/eagle/lifestyles/a-peek-at-napa-valley-s-hidden-past/article_9f5d6a22-a85f-5499-83a7-91d3fdaa6dc8.html. Retrieved October 2, 2011. 
5. ^ Gaughan, Timothy (July 3, 2009). "When the valley met the vine: A perfect storm, and the big five". Napa Valley Register (Napa, CA: Lee Enterprises, Inc.). http://napavalleyregister.com/lifestyles/food-and-cooking/wine/when-the-valley-met-the-vine-a-perfect-storm-and/article_34d7d998-9b28-597f-aafb-ee1f9ce4ece5.html. Retrieved October 2, 2011. 
6. ^ Siler, Julia Flynn (2008). The House of Mondavi: The Rise and Fall of an American Wine Dynasty. Penguin Books. ISBN 9781592403677. http://books.google.com/books?id=KQgdhc9JnLsC&pg=PT51&dq=Cesare+Mondavi&hl=en&ei=njiJTp2nO-nniAKTwfnADA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&sqi=2&ved=0CDUQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Charles%20Krug&f=false. 
7. ^ Blue, Anthony Dias (1988). American Wine: A Comprehensive Guide. HarperCollins. ISBN 9780060159146. http://books.google.com/books?id=_Zty69pDfjEC&pg=PT188&dq=Cesare+Mondavi+Charles+Krug&hl=en&ei=bjaJTqL4Hs3ViAKZhsCuDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&sqi=2&ved=0CEQQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Cesare%20Mondavi%20Charles%20Krug&f=false. 
8. ^ "Vintners Hall of Fame Inductees," Culinary Institute of America

External links

Charles Krug: Peter Mondavi Family