Charles Krug is the oldest operating winery in Napa Valley
2800 Main Street, St. Helena, CA 94574
Website: https://www.charleskrug.com/
Charles Krug Winery is a historic landmark in Napa Valley. Charles Krug, a Prussian immigrant, established the winery in 1861. It was the first winery in Napa Valley to open its doors to the public in 1882. Charles Krug was a major influencer for Napa Valley’s wine region during his era. After he passed away in 1892, a man named James Moffett purchased the winery and held onto it through Prohibition. Then in 1943, James Moffett sold the winery to Italian immigrants Cesare and Rosa Mondavi. Cesare wanted the winery to be a family business and named his older son Robert as General Manager and put his younger Peter in charge of wine production.
Unfortunately there was a riff between Robert and Peter in the 1960s that split the family apart and Robert left to start his own winery in Oakville. Peter stayed on to run the winery and continued operations after both of his parents passed away. Peter, staying true to his father’s vision of maintaining a family run winery, has given his two sons Marc and Peter Jr. major roles in guiding the operation of the winery for the next generation. Peter Sr. who is celebrating his 100th birthday in 2014 is still actively involved in the winery.
The historic Carriage House at Charles Krug winery.
There are several historic landmarks still on the property, including the house where Cesare and Rosa resided, now the home of Peter Sr.; the Redwood Cellar that was built in 1872; and the Carriage House that Krug built for his wife Carolina in 1881. The Carriage House went through a large renovation in 2013 and houses the new tasting room. I stopped in to visit the new tasting room soon after it opened. It is much nicer than the old tasting room which felt cramped and ordinary. The new tasting room has a nice balance of elegance and rusticity. It is huge in comparison to the former tasting room. Guests enter through the large wooden doors of the Carriage House. The walls are made of cement, the floor is covered in a light gray tile, and wood beams frame the rest of the room and ceiling. On the far left side of the room is the tasting bar that spans the width of the room. It is made of steel and a large slab of wood with lighting underneath. Behind the bar is a wooden wine rack that covers the entire wall. There are tables and chairs throughout the center of the room with flower pots and wine bottle centerpieces. The space reminded me of being in an Italian restaurant.
Charles Krug Tasting Room
The wall opposite the entrance has some glassed-in sections that look down into the wine cellar. To the far right of the room is the section where the deli will reside (The deli was not yet complete when I visited. We were told it would be finished in the summer of 2014). To the left of the tasting bar is a small hallway that leads to a glass elevator and a private tasting room. Within the private room is some memorabilia such old wine bottles and labels and a bronze bust of Peter Mondavi Sr. The wine club manager who showed us around informed us that the second floor would be reserved for wine club members who want to relax and have a more one-on-one experience when they visit.
Charles Krug Winery focuses on Bordeaux style wines. They also make Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and a Zinfandel Port that is delicious with dark chocolate.All of their wines are high quality. The winery also hosts Tastings on the Lawn each fall on the Great Lawn adjacent to the Carriage House with live music, food from local chefs, meet-and-greets with the Mondavi family, lots of wine and other fun activities.
My husband and I got to meet Peter Mondavi, Sr. at a Tastings on the Lawn event in 2010. He was 95 years old.