Abreu Vineyards
| Abreu Vineyards | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | St. Helena, CA, USA |
| Appellation | Rutherford AVA |
| Founded | 1980 |
| Key people |
David Abreu, viticulturist Brad Grimes, winemaker |
| Known for | Madrona Ranch cabernet |
| Varietal | cabernet sauvignon |
| Other products | olive oil |
| Website | www.abreuvineyards.com |
Abreu Vineyards is a winery in Napa Valley, California founded by the viticulturist David Abreu.
History
David Abreu, a third-generation rancher from St. Helena, California and graduate of the Viticulture and Enology program at UC Davis, founded Abreu Vineyards in 1980 after working briefly at Caymus Vineyards. That year he formed David Abreu Vineyard Management, working with pioneering winemaker Richard Forman to manage ranching operations at Inglenook Winery.
Abreu and Forman became friends and traveled frequently to Bordeaux, where they observed French winemaking operations. They brought back French rootstock, trellis designs, and Bordelais planting and farming techniques.[1]
Abreu's fame spread as other wineries hired Abreu's company to plant and manage ranching operations. By 1999 he was considered the premier viticulturist for premium grapes in Napa Valley.[2] Abreu's company has raised grapes for some of the most respected wineries in Napa Valley including Blankiet Estate, Staglin Family Vineyards, Jones Family Vineyards, Bressler Vineyards, Colgin Cellars, Pahlmeyer Vineyard, Sloan Estate, Bryant Family Vineyard, Fisher Vineyards, Oakford Vineyards, Araujo Estate Wines, Grace Family Vineyards, Viader Vineyards, and Harlan Estate, among others.
In the late 1990s Abreu and Forman jointly leased and planted the 20-acre (8.1 ha) Thorevilos Vineyard. They released Abreu's first cabernet from that vineyard in 2000.[3]
In 2006 Abreu was hired to replant vineyards at Screaming Eagle Winery and Vineyards.[4]
Wine
Abreu's label concentrates exclusively on estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignon blends from his two vineyards. Distribution is extremely limited, although a number of online wine sellers do advertise Abreu wines at $400 to $600 or more per bottle. The 1999 production was 500 cases (45.000 hL; 1,188.774 U.S. gal).
In 1998 wine critic Robert Parker included Abreu in his list of the "most influential wine personalities of the last 20 years".[5] Parker awarded the 1997 Madrona Ranch cabernet a 100-point score, one of only 140 wines in the world to receive the honor.[6]
In the "Judgment of Sauternes" of October, 2006, the 1995 vintage Cabernet blend was judged the winner among Cabernet-Merlot blends from Bordeaux and California, 16 each, in a blind tasting arranged by the Grand Jury Européen.[7]
References
- ↑ Forman, Richard (2000). Launching Bordeaux-Style Wines in the Napa Valley:. University of California, Berkeley, Regional Oral History Office. pp. 106–109.
- ↑ Forman, 2000, p. 37
- ↑ Foreman, 2000, pp. 124-125
- ↑ Murphy, Linda, San Francisco Chronicle (2006-08-03). "Worth its weight in gold? Why some people happily pay $500 for a bottle of wine". The San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on 26 January 2007. Retrieved 2007-01-27.
- ↑ Parker, Robert, The Wine Advocate (1998-12-23). "The most influential wine personalities of the last 20 years" (Issue #120). The Wine Advocate.
- ↑ Wine-Searcher (May 2005). "Robert Parker's 100 Point Wines". Archived from the original on 2006-11-15. Retrieved 2007-01-27.
- ↑ Anson, Jane, Decanter.com (2006-10-24). "California in pole position yet again". Retrieved 2007-01-27.