View source for Beaulieu Vineyard

{{Infobox Winery
| winery_name = Beaulieu Vineyard
| winery_logo = 
| location_city = Rutherford, California
| location_country = USA
| appellation = <!--e.g. Napa Valley--> 
| former_name =
| other_labels= <!--if the winery makes more than one label-->
| year_founded = 1900
| first_vintage =
| key_people = Joel Aiken, President of Winemaking ,<br>Robert Masyczek, Winemaker<br>Jeffrey Stambor, Winemaker
| parent_company =
| cases_per_year =
| signature_wine = <!--e.g. Chicken Hawk Table Red --> Georges De Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
| varietal1 = <!--e.g. zinfandel--> Cabernet Sauvignon
| varietal2 = Pinot Noir
| varietal3 = Chardonnay
| varietal4 = Sangiovese
| varietal5 = Zinfandel
| varietal6 = Syrah
| varietal7 = Viognier
| varietal8 = Merlot
| varietal9 = Shiraz
| varietal10 = Sauvignon Blanc
| other_product1= 
| other_product2=
| other_product3=
| other_product4=
| other_product5=
| homepage= http://www.bvwines.com
| distribution <!--e.g. national, regional, limited, restaurants, wine club only, etc-->national
| tasting= <!--open to public, by appointment, special events, etc--> open to the public
}}
[[Image:Beaulieu Vineyard.jpg|thumb|250px|left||The landmark architecture featured in its wine label]]
[[Image:Beaulieu Vineyard Clone6.jpg|thumb|Signet Collection Series Clone 6, 100% [[Cabernet Sauvignon]] 2000]]
[[Image:Closeup cork.jpg|thumb|A cork of BV]]

'''Beaulieu Vineyard''' was established in [[1900]] by Georges de Latour and his wife Fernande when they purchased 4 acres in [[Rutherford, California]].  The winery derives its name from the french phrase "''Quel beau lieu''" which translated to english means "''What a beautiful place''". Legend has it that Fernande uttered these words when she first saw the land. The following year, they purchased a nearby winery originally built by California State Senator Seneca Ewer in [[1885]].  Georges' knowledge about [[phylloxera]] which at the time had ravaged many of [[Napa Valley]]'s vineyards and his decision to import a rootstock variety resistant to the pest helped cement his stature as one of the early pioneers of California's wine industry. 

When [[Prohibition in the United States]] began in [[1920]], most wineries in the country were forced out of operation. However, Beaulieu obtained a contract to supply [[sacramental wine]] to churches across the country. The demand for such wine increased dramatically during the years of Prohibition and the winery repeatedly expanded. By the [[Repeal of Prohibition]] in [[1933]], production had grown to over one million gallons per year.

Following Repeal of Prohibition, Beaulieu hired [[Andre Tchelistcheff]] from [[France]] as winemaker and the quality of its wines increased significantly. Tchelistcheff also became a mentor to other important winemakers such as [[Mike Grgich]] (whose [[Chateau Montelena]] Chardonnay won the [[Judgment of Paris (wine)|Judgment of Paris]], Joe Heitz of [[Heitz Wine Cellars]], and [[Robert Mondavi]]. By the [[1940s]], Beaulieu wines were served at all major [[White House]] functions.



In the [[Ottawa Wine Tasting of 1981]], the 1970 vintage of Beaulieu Vineyard George de Latour Private Reserve [[Cabernet Sauvignon]] received second place. 

==External link==
[http://www.bvwines.com BV Wines]
{{Geolinks-US-buildingscale|38.460159|-122.423444}}

==See also==
[[Napa Valley (wine)]]

[[California wine]]



[[Category:Companies established in 1900]]
[[Category:Napa Valley wineries]]
[[Category:Companies based in Napa County]]

[[de:Beaulieu Vineyard]]
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