United States

Wine has been produced in the United States since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628.

Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states but 84% of all US wine is produced in California, over 90% in the states of California, Washington, and Oregon.

The United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world.

The North American continent is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers.

Beaulieu Vineyard

Beaulieu Vineyard (BV for labelling purposes) is a vineyard near Rutherford, California, belonging to the appellation Rutherford AVA. It was established by Georges de Latour and his wife Fernande in 1900.

When Prohibition became law, de Latour began selling sacramental wine to the Catholic Church. He was one of the few experienced vintners to hit the ground running after the 21st amendment repealed the 18th in 1933.

Georges de Latour made many innovations in California’s wine industry. He advocated using small oak barrels for the aging certain varietals. This gave his wines a complexity and depth rarely seen before in the Golden State and they became sought after on both coasts of the United States. He passed away in 1939, but not before hiring Andre Tchelistcheff who would carry on his legacy in Napa Valley.

The Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon has been widely recognized as the benchmark Cabernet Sauvignon from Rutherford since its inaugural vintage in 1936.

“The Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Georges de Latour Private Reserve 2019 is our Wine of the Year 2022. And not only it is a perfect wine, but it is also a wine that highlights the greatness of so many wines from Napa Valley and the United States from the 2019 vintage.” James Suckling