The Tasting Panel magazine

COVER STORY A New Chapter in California Wine O History JEAN-CHARLES BOISSET LOOKS TO THE PAST TO ENVISION THE FUTURE AT BUENA VISTA by Deborah Parker Wong / photos by Rebecca Wilkowski n the whole, consumers know little about the history of wine in California prior to 1976—when the industry achieved fame at the infamous Judgment of Paris tasting—and the same could be said for much of the trade as well. As the number of Napa and Sonoma wineries celebrating milestone anniversaries grows, history will play an increasingly important role in conveying the authenticity and provenance of California's wines. "The rich history of California's wine world has been collecting dust," observes Jean-Charles Boisset, whose family-owned com- pany, Boisset Family Estates, added the iconic 155-year-old Buena Vista winery to its holdings in May of 2011. "Buena Vista's future lies in its past; we're restoring a legend and creating a unique visitor experience that will make Sonoma a 'must-visit' destination for wine enthusiasts the world over." New packaging was inspired by the winery's circa-1860 labels and evokes Buena Vista's Sonoma heritage. 56 / the tasting panel / january/february 2012 The company owns, at last count, 24 winery properties world- wide, and Boisset sees domestic and global wine culture from a perspective that few possess. "California has condensed 1,500 years of wine growing history into 150 years. It's phenomenal to see and celebrate the American spirit, which so quickly learns, absorbs and improves upon traditions that developed all over the world." In December, Buena Vista revived its Sonoma history by introducing a new series of Sonoma wines crafted under the guidance of consulting winemaker David Ramey and debuted a complete label redesign across the winery's portfolio. The Sonoma series includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and "The Count," a red field blend that pays homage to the winery's founding father, Count Agoston Haraszthy. The winery will add a Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay from Sonoma in spring 2012. The 2011 vintage marks the return of winemaking to Buena Vista, where no wine has been made on-site for more than 20 years.

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