Georges de Latour
Originally from France, Georges de Latour moved to Napa in the late 19th century. He made his initial fortune selling cream of tartar. In 1900, he started Beaulieu Vineyard meaning “beautiful place.”
Georges de Latour began updating the production facilities and BV was soon producing over 1 million gallons of wine a year. He was one of the first to sell wine labeled “Cabernet Sauvignon.” To combat phylloxera, Geoges de Latour wisely grafted Vitis vinifera grapes onto Native American rootstocks. He also helped many other vintners do the same in their vineyards.
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 He was one of the few experienced vintners to hit the ground running after the 21st amendment repealed the 18th in 1933.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.
