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History of Winegrowing
Winemaking in the region dates back to the 1860s, when Captain Stalham Wing presented the first six bottles of Mount Veeder area wine at the Napa County Fair. By the late 1800s, the mountain hosted at least 20 vineyards and six wineries. In the Streich family winery, still standing today, Rudolf Jordon became one of the first California winemakers to use pure yeast and cool temperatures to control fermentation.
the hillside at random ridge
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At the turn of the century, Oakland businessman Theodore Gier produced thousands of cases of gold-medal winning wines on Mount Veeder. During Prohibition, Gier sold his property to the Christian Brothers, and years later Donald Hess brought his art collection and winery to the site.
Many other appellation vintners and growers have strong roots in the mountain's viticultural past. The Mayacamas property, for example, traces back to an 1890s sword engraver, pickle merchant and winemaker name Fischer. And the Brandlins tend vineyards that have been in the family for over 120 years. Each new Mount Veeder region vine, wine and vintner reaffirms Europe's centuries-old belief in the quality of mountain grapes.
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