Schramsberg Celebrating 40th Anniversary
October 24, 2005
In the same humble way it began Schramsberg has been celebrating its 40th anniversary this year with gatherings of longtime friend, supporters and employees, many of whom have been with the winery for most of its history.
So what is Schramsberg?
Living History
It is the legacy of Jacob and Annie Schram who founded Schramsberg
in 1862 and planted Napa County’s first hillside vineyards, dug
the historic caves and produced wines that were internationally recognized
for excellence.
Jack Davies, Schramsberg co-founder
Jamie Davies resides in the original Schram home which she and her late husband Jack lovingly restored. 40-year-old Hugh Davies lives with his wife Monique and their son Emerys in the equally historic Mc Echron residence on the Schramsberg estate.
A Property Where the Mexican and American Flags Fly Side-by-Side
From the same wooded entry Robert Louis Stevenson took his horse-drawn
carriage into Schramsberg, visitors today arrive in the small courtyard
parking area shared by the winery, family residence and offices. There
two flags wave overhead; one from the United States of Mexico and the
other representing the United States of America.
The Mexican-American flag honors a team that has worked alongside the Davies for most of the winery’s history:
Ramon Viera, Master Riddler, who came to the United States from Minchoacan to play soccer for the Napa Rangers. He joined Schramsberg in 1970 and learned to riddle from Jaime Aguirre. Today, in an average day, he will turn 35,000 bottles and has been known to turn 50,000 bottles in a single day.
Efren Torres, Production Assistant, came from Guanajuato in 1973 to play soccer. His outstanding soccer skills earned him the title of Napa Sporting Champion in 1980 and again in 1984 and secured his position in the San Francisco Soccer Hall of Fame. Effren joined Schramsberg in 1974.
Jaime Aguirre came to the United States with his parents in 1952. He worked with Christian Brothers and Beaulieu before joining Schramsberg in 1968 at the age of 21. He was hired as a vineyard foreman, but also ran presses, riddled, bottled and labeled. H also played soccer for the Rangers and the Napa Olympic Soccer Club.
Felipe Martinez, Production Supervisor, was 18 years old when he came from Michoacan to play for the Napa Rangers. He joined Schramsberg in 1984.
Dionisio Parra, Mantenance, come to the United States in 1962 and did an assortment of field work before joining Schramsberg in 1983.
Isidro Ceja, Production Assistant, Cellar Worker and Driver. Isidro came to the United States from Michoacan in 1979. He joined Schramsberg in 1984. Isidro also plays soccer.
Miguel Moreno, Production Assistant, came to the United States in 1970 and joined Schramsberg in 1980.
An Independent Family Business
Like the Schrams before them, the Davies worked as a couple, each taking
an equal share of the responsibility for restoration of the property,
caring for their three sons and developing the winery. Without
any corporate backing, familial wine heritage or prior winemaking experience,
they pioneered the most significant developments in domestic sparkling
wine industry, employing the Methode Champenoise, traditional varietals
and high standards.
Schramsberg produced the first California Blanc de Blancs, the first Blanc de Noirs and the first tete de cuvee.
Innovation, Change, Commitment to Standards
The Davies have continually improved vineyard sources and winemaking
techniques and now make as many as ten different sparkling bottlings
annually. 80 cool climate vineyard sites are utilized to produce
a vast spectrum of intensely flavored, highly acidic fruit. 150 base
wines are made from these blocks utilizing stainless steel, barrel and
malolactic fermentations. This meticulous, diverse fruit sourcing
is a traditional practice in the finest areas of France’s Champagne
region. No producer other than Schramsberg adheres to this approach.
Jamie Davies and son, Hugh Davies
Schramsberg maintains a stable of 50 aged base wines in the winery’s cellars for blending and dosage. Bottle fermentation and subsequent bottle aging occurs in the ideal conditions of the historic Diamond Mountain caves.
J. Davies Diamond Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
In 2004 Hugh Davies and his mother Jamie proudly released their first
estate-grown, produced and bottled J. Davies Diamond Mountain Cabernet
Sauvignon, a tribute to the late Jack Davies. As the Davies had
begun sourcing fruit from cooler vineyard regions for the sparkling
wine in the 1990s, they initiated the long process of replanting their
estate vineyards to Bordeaux varietals to which the area is best suited.
The Davies have planted 30 blocks to specific clones of Cabernet Sauvignon,
Malbec, Merlot and Petit Verdot. The first bottles of the J. Davies
Cabernet Sauvignon were sold to 2004 Napa Valley Wine Auction top bidder
Gary Rieschel. 
