Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/97133
A Sparkling A���air LOOKING TOWARD THE FUTURE, SCHRAMSBERG MARKS ITS 150TH ANNIVERSARY IN HISTORIC STYLE story and photos by Randy Caparoso Dressing the part. Hugh Davies with his family, wife Monique Davies and their three sons, Emrys, Nelson and Hughie. S topping every few seconds to ight back tears, Schramsberg Vineyards CEO Hugh Davies recounted the glorious history of his family winery at their 150th anniversary celebration on October 29 in Calistoga. Schramsberg was founded by Jacob Schram in 1852. Its cellars, hand-carved by Chinese laborers, lay dormant for 50 years before Mr. Davies���s late parents, Jack and Jamie Davies, revived the Napa Valley property in 1965���turning it into America���s most prestigious m��thode champenoise estate. Mr. Davies quoted Robert Louis Stevenson, who in Silverado Squatters (published 1863) wrote about Schramsberg���s ���stirring sunlight growing between vines, vats and wines,��� making ���pleasant music for the mind.��� Davies 76 / the tasting panel / december 2012 pledged, ���We will continue to work hard to make pleasant music today, and through the next generation������pointing to his three young sons, Emrys, Nelson and Hughie Davies. The occasion was also a culinary tour de force, thanks to Terra chef/owners Hiro Sone and Lissa Doumani. Incredibly rich, complex sparklers like the Schramsberg 1994 Reserve (served with porcini abalone soup) and 1997 J. Schram (with roasted unagi eel) demonstrated why many connoisseurs still consider Schramsberg to be America���s inest sparkling wine house. Guests also enjoyed the family���s still wines���a 2005 and 2009 J. Davies Cabernet Sauvignon���with lamb chops and lamb tongue: amazingly deep, concentrated, hillside estate wines���truly among Napa Valley���s inest. THE TASTING PANEL���S Northern CA Editor, Deborah Parker Wong, is a talented costume designer and made this amazing dress for the occasion.