Not too long ago ABC introduced a new and interesting wine to our portfolio called “Frenchie.” This
is a favorite wine of one of my counterparts, Marie Griffin,who likes to tell the story of how the wine got its name. How the producer of the wine, Jean-Charles Boisset, dedicates each wine to his wife, Gina Gallo, by dressing their bulldog “Frenchie” in unusual costumes for the label of each the wines he makes.

 Well, now Monsieur Boisset has not only married American wine royalty, he has now added one of the oldest wineries in Sonoma, Buena Vista Winery, to his holdings. The Buena Vista Winery
was started in 1857 by the original “Count of Buena Vista,” Hungarian Agoston Haraszthy. Mr. Haraszthy was famous for bringing around 100,000 European rootstocks to Northern California comprised of 350 different varieties. These were very important highlights of Mr.Haraszthy’s that lead to the development of the commercial wine industry in California.

 Jean-Charles Boisset, who also has Hungarian roots, has made plans to renovate completely the existing winery with the aim of bringing it back to its former glory. With plans to restore the Champagne cellar, which was originally built in 1864, Jean-Charles would like to see this as a showplace for visitors to see back to the past and take a glimpse of the true roots of the California
wine history.

 I had the opportunity to visit the Buena Vista Winery in 2007 and take part in the 150th Anniversary Celebration of the winery. It was a wonderful experience to hear from those
that have been a part of the winery, even hearing a speech from Agoston Haraszthy’s great-great grandson Val Haraszthy. Now this continuing history of the famous Buena Vista Winery is in the capable hands of the new “Count of Buena Vista” Jean-Charles Boisset and his wife Gina Gallo.

Ken Amendola, Wine Supervisor,  N. Florida

Follow me on Twitter @abcwinekena