US: California Honors Historic Vines

(Wines&Vines) - Despite Prohibition and the changing whims of America’s wine drinkers, some growers in California have managed to nurture vines that have been growing for decades if not more than a century. The vines produce grapes that some say make vibrant, interesting wines but also provide an almost literal connection to the roots of California’s viticultural heritage. To honor these vineyards, the California Assembly passed a resolution to note: “Historic vineyards are beautiful and treasured survivors that have lived through the ravages of Phylloxera, economic downtowns, consumer popularity fluctuations and, in many cases, Prohibition and world wars. 

While resolution HR 9 doesn’t confer any special legal protection or historic status on the vines, proponents of the old vineyards hope it will make growers think twice about replanting them. “We’re pretty excited that the state has actually, in our opinion, done something pretty significant,” said Bob Biale, co-owner of Robert Biale Vineyards in Napa, Calif., which produces wine from old vines, including those from Aldo’s Vineyard (planted in 1937).