Charles Krug
Encyclopedia
Charles Krug 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. The dowry
Bale left for her included 20 acre (0.0809372 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, carefully selected rootstocks
, varietals
and vineyard sites. The knowledge he gained and shared benefited the young California wine industry.
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. 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. Krug was inducted into the Culinary Institute of America's
Vintner's Hall of Fame in 2007.
Winemaking
Winemaking, or vinification, is the production of wine, starting with selection of the grapes or other produce and ending with bottling the finished wine. Although most wine is made from grapes, it may also be made from other fruit or non-toxic plant material...
in the Napa Valley, and was the founder of the winery of the same name. Krug immigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
in 1851 and served as an apprentice winemaker for both Agoston Haraszthy
Agoston Haraszthy
Agoston Haraszthy was a Hungarian-American traveler, writer, town-builder, and pioneer winemaker in Wisconsin and California, often referred to as the "Father of California Viticulture," or the "Father of Modern Winemaking in California"...
and then John Patchett
John Patchett
John Patchett was the first person to plant a commercial vineyard and build a commercial wine cellar in the Napa Valley. Patchett planted his vineyard in 1854 and started making wine in 1857. Patchett established his winery in Napa in 1858....
before establishing his own winery. Krug married Carolina Bale, the daughter of early Napa Valley pioneer and miller
Miller
A miller usually refers to a person who operates a mill, a machine to grind a cereal crop to make flour. Milling is among the oldest of human occupations. "Miller", "Milne" and other variants are common surnames, as are their equivalents in other languages around the world...
Edward Turner Bale
Edward Turner Bale
Edward Turner Bale was an English immigrant physician who built the Bale Grist Mill in Napa County, California.-Life:...
, on December 26, 1860. The dowry
Dowry
A dowry is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings forth to the marriage. It contrasts with bride price, which is paid to the bride's parents, and dower, which is property settled on the bride herself by the groom at the time of marriage. The same culture may simultaneously practice both...
Bale left for her included 20 acre (0.0809372 km²) of land north of St. Helena, California
St. Helena, California
St. Helena is a city in Napa County, California, United States. It is part of the northern San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 5,814 at the 2010 census....
, 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, carefully selected rootstocks
Rootstock
A rootstock is a plant, and sometimes just the stump, which already has an established, healthy root system, used for grafting a cutting or budding from another plant. The tree part being grafted onto the rootstock is usually called the scion...
, varietals
Varietal
"Varietal" describes wines made primarily from a single named grape variety, and which typically displays the name of that variety on the wine label. Examples of grape varieties commonly used in varietal wines are Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Merlot...
and vineyard sites. The knowledge he gained and shared benefited the young California wine industry.
Following Krug's death, James Moffitt Sr. purchased the winery in 1894. In 1943, Robert Mondavi
Robert Mondavi
Robert Gerald Mondavi was a leading California vineyard operator whose technical improvements and marketing strategies brought worldwide recognition for the wines of the Napa Valley in California. From an early period, Mondavi aggressively promoted labeling wines varietally rather than...
persuaded his parents, Cesare and Rosa Mondavi, to purchase the inactive winery from Moffitt for $75,000. 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. Krug was inducted into the Culinary Institute of America's
Culinary Institute of America
The Culinary Institute of America is a non-profit culinary college located in Hyde Park USA, founded in 1946. The CIA also has branch campuses in St. Helena, California, and San Antonio, Texas, as well as a campus in Singapore. It is a not-for-profit academic institution of higher learning...
Vintner's Hall of Fame in 2007.