Schramsberg Vineyards
Timeline
1832Jacob Schram, son of Herman and Annie Wagner Schram, was born in Pheddersheim, near the city of Worms on the Rhine River in Germany. His father was a captain under Napoleon, and his uncle was the General Schram of the Napoleonic wars.
1833 (October 2) Annie Christine Weber was born in Hochheim, Germany.
1842 Schram set out for America, leaving Germany in order to avoid the draft.
1842-1852 Schram arrived in New York, where he learned and practiced barbering in the New York area.
1850 John Patchet established the first commercial winery in Napa Valley.
1852 Schram started his journey to San Francisco.
1854 Schram arrived in San Francisco aboard the steamer Yankee Blade. He worked as a barber in San Francisco and Marysville, and opened the Metropolitan Theatre Tonsorial Parlor in San Francisco.
1857 First commercial shipment of wine from Napa. Schram went to White Sulfur Springs as a barber during the social season. Fire of that year burned him out of “house and home.”
1858 Schram relocated to Napa city; opened a barber shop
1859 Jacob Schram and Annie Christine Weber were married.
1861-1862 Count Agoston Haraszthy returned from a survey of European vineyards with cuttings from 300 grape varietals.
1862 Herman Adolph Schram was born.
1862 Jacob Schram purchased the 200-acre Mt. Diamond property from the government and began development of Napa hillside vineyards.
1869 The Transcontinental Railway was completed, creating a surplus of Chinese laborers in the San Francisco area.
1870 Schramsberg had 30,000 vines; Chinese laborers dug Napa’s first hillside caves for wine aging and storage at Schramsberg Vineyards.
1875 Schram Victorian mansion with stately veranda completed on vineyard site
1877
Schram sold 40-acre piece of property to Colin McEachran.
1879 Schramsberg winery produced 5,500 cases of wine.
1880 Author Robert Louis Stevenson visited Schramsberg. Descriptions of his stay are recorded in his book, “Silverado Squatters.” Schramsberg produced 8,403 cases of wine from 50 acres of vines.
1881 Construction for second set of cellar tunnels began. In the previous 17 years, Schramsberg winery pressed 87,237 cases of wine.
1885-1900 Phylloxera epidemic in the Napa Valley; reported to be minor at Schramsberg
1888 Second set of cellar tunnels completed
1889 Schramsberg and Inglenook were the only California wines listed on the menu at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco.
1890 Schramsberg produced 540,000 pounds of grapes (approx. 28,361 cases of wine) from 100 acres of grapes.
1891 Wines produced at Schramsberg were listed as Zinfandel, Sauvignon Vert, Burgundy, Hock, Sauternes and Riesling. Schramsberg Riesling served to President Harrison at Palace Hotel in San Francisco.
1905 Jacob Schram died. Property inherited by son, Herman.
1920-1933 The 21st Amendment ends Prohibition. Schramsberg was sold to a firm of investment speculators.
1921 Property was purchased by Captain Raymond C. Naylor as a summer home
1933 18th Amendment repealed
1940 Schramsberg purchased by John Gargano and his California Champagne Company.
1951 California Champagne Company and Schramsberg purchased by Douglas Pringle. He revived the Schramsberg label for both Champagne and table wines.
1957 Schramsberg was declared a Historical Monument by the California Historical Society
1960 Douglas Pringle died; winery was locked up by widow. Jamie Peterman and Jack Davies married in the Memorial Chapel at Stanford University.
1965200-acre Schramsberg property purchased by Jack and Jamie Davies, who had moved to the Napa Valley from Los Angeles where Jack had held executive positions at such companies as Ducommon, Inc., Fibreboard Corporation, Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation, McKinsey and Company and Rod McLellan, one of the world’s leading orchid nurseries. Jamie had previously owned an art gallery in San Francisco after receiving a degree from University of California, 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. Schramsberg used the traditional Méthode Champenoise style of winemaking to produce premium-quality sparkling wines. Hugh Davies was born the month after the family took over the winery.
1967Schramsberg produced vintage-dated Blanc de Noirs of Pinot Noir grapes: another innovation in the United States
1968Schramsberg introduced Cuvée de Gamay of Napa Gamay grape, a vintage-dated brut rosé: another first in the United States. Napa Valley Agricultural Preserve was established, spearheaded by Jack Davies. This would be the nation’s first such agricultural preserve.
1972Schramsberg introduced Crémant Demi-sec, produced from the Flora grape in a creamy, less effervescent style, which was vintage-dated — once again pioneering a new style of sparkling wine in the U.S. market.
1972(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 was the first time Schramsberg or any American wine was served at a White House or State event, both at home and abroad.
1975Schramsberg celebrated its first 10 years.
1976Blanc de Blancs (1973) served at the White House Bicentennial Dinner by President Ford for Queen Elizabeth II.
1978The "Diplôme de l’Excellence Européenne," or the "Diploma of European Excellence," presented to Schramsberg. The award was designed to recognize the achievement of excellence within the arts and other fields.
1979Cuvée de Gamay replaced with Cuvée de Pinot (using Pinot Noir grapes): a wine with more finesse, lightness, and delicacy than the earlier style. Schramsberg served at State Dinner in Vienna by President Carter for Soviet President Leonid Brezhnev.
1980Schramsberg Reserve introduced: an innovative, vintage-dated wine aged on the yeast four years before disgorging
1981Blanc de Blancs (1975) served at White House State Dinner for President Reagan, honoring British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Crémant Demi-sec (1979) served at White House State Dinner for President Reagan, honoring King Juan Carlos of Spain and, later, honoring Prime Minister Suzuki of Japan.
1983Blanc de Blancs (1980) served at dinner at the Ahwanee Hotel in Yosemite National Park, honoring Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. First Schramsberg grapes sourced for sparkling wine from the Carneros region because of its proximity to cool, marine air.
1984California Museum of Science and Industry in Los Angeles (now the California Science Center) presented Schramsberg with Junipero Serra Award for outstanding contributions in the fields of engineering and science.
198519th-century, 20-acre McEachran Winery Estate purchased by Davies; reunites under single ownership these two historical, contiguous California properties. First use of barrel fermentation in production of Schramsberg sparkling wines. Schramsberg won 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.
1986(July 4) Schramsberg served at the Statue of Liberty for Liberty Weekend festivities; historic salmanazar large-format bottle placed in Liberty Island Museum.
1987Schramsberg served at official banquet in San Francisco honoring Pope John Paul II. Davies started sourcing grapes from cooler, coastal sites for sparkling wines. First non-Napa fruit used at Schramsberg.
1988Schramsberg served at the National Geographic Society’s 200th anniversary celebration.
1990Schramsberg 1986 Crémant Demi-sec served at the luncheon to honor President Mikhail Gorbachev at the Fairmont Hotel. Anderson Valley fruit in Mendocino County added to mix of vineyard sources.
1992Schramsberg’s J. Schram, America’s first Tête de Cuvée, was introduced in London.
1994The replanting of the winery’s historic Diamond Mountain property to Cabernet Sauvignon and the red Bordeaux varietals began. International Wine and Spirit Competition in London awarded Gold Medal to 1988 J. Schram.
1995Schramsberg’s 30th anniversary celebrated with a serious of cross-country champagne dinners created by James Beard Foundation chefs. The 30th Anniversary Cuvée, a Blanc de Noirs with 10 years on the yeast, is served, and a scholarship fund for food and champagne pairing is established at the Culinary Institute of America’s Greystone campus in the Napa Valley.
1996Hugh Davies joined Schramsberg with a master’s degree in enology from University of California, Davis. First red, Bordeaux-style wines made at winery. Jack and Jamie presented with James Beard Foundation Outstanding Wine and Spirits Professional Award.
1998Jack Davies passed away and Jamie became president and chairman of the company. Jack L. Davies Napa Valley Land Preservation Fund established. Schramsberg’s Napa Valley Querencia Rosé produced with the proceeds going to the fund.
1994Crémant Demi-sec served at dinner for the 30th Anniversary of Special Olympics; Attendees included President Bill and Mrs. Clinton, Whoopie Goldberg, Jon Bon Jovi, Eric Clapton and Sheryl Crow.
1999-2000Special Schramsberg Millennium cuvées released, including late-disgorged 1988 Blanc de Noirs and 1990 J. Schram. Hugh Davies became head winemaker.
2001At White House State Dinner, President Bush served 1997 Crémant Demi-sec for President Fox of Mexico.
2003Schramsberg 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 had ever won these two awards.
2004First vintage of J. Davies Diamond Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon (2001) released. The wine was named in honor of Jack Davies. Davies family chaired the Napa Valley Wine Auction.
2005Schramsberg celebrated 40th anniversary with a series of special dinners across the country and release of 1994 late-disgorged Blanc de Blancs, Blanc de Noirs and Reserve. Emrys Davies, son of Hugh and Monique Davies, was born. Hugh was named president of Schramsberg Vineyards and Jamie remained chairman.
2005(December) Hugh Davies elected president of the Napa Valley Vintners Association. His father Jack had also been president of the organization.
2006Third vintage of J. Davies (2003) released in April. Nelson Lloyd Davies, son of Hugh and Monique Davies, was born. Inaugural J. Schram Rosé (1998), America’s first Tête de Cuvée Rosé, released September 1. Ninth year of Camp Schramsberg, three-day sparkling wine camp, held August 27-29 at Schramsberg and Culinary Institute of America, Greystone.
2007(March 18-20) Camp Schramsberg expanded to include Spring Blending session
2008 (February 12) Jamie Davies passed away.
2008(May 1) Schramsberg’s new Visitor Center opened to the public
