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#BVwasthere
Stories of BV
We asked our audience to share with us their most treasured BV memories. These are their stories.
"My wife, Karen, and I first visited Beaulieu Vineyards in the 1980s. We've been enjoying your wines ever since and we actually arranged for them to become a featured aspect at my company's client receptions and dinners. At the time, I was a marketing director for Black & Veatch, a global engineering and construction firm. Part of my role was planning and orchestrating those large (some with over 600 attendees) client receptions and dinners at major technical conferences. Our company's logo was a simple overlapping BV surrounded by a square. So after visiting your winery and being impressed by your wines, I came up with the idea of bringing your "BV" wines to our "BV" company events. The first time we served BV wines, our guests, without any prompting, picked right up on the BV on the label and offered a variety of comments including asking whether we were now branching out into other areas of endeavor, etc. Oh, by the way, they thought the wines were superb too! It went over so well that we continued to provide only BV wines at these events for quite a few years. In the end, we introduced a lot of people to your wines, and I'd be willing to wager that a number of them turned into loyal customers for you. Cheers! " - Tom
"The very first winery I ever visited was Beaulieu Vineyards, back in 1989. I've been a fan ever since. But my most memorable visit was 14 1/2 years ago. On a wine tasting trip to Napa Valley, BV was planned as the final stop for my then girlfriend and me. I had made arrangements in advance with the Members' Tasting Room. When we finally got to tasting the Tapestry (our absolute favorite wine), they brought out a small plate with a single wrapped Lindt Truffle on it, and told Michelle that this was a special chocolate for her on her very first visit to BV, to have with this special wine. She asked "Why doesn't Steve get one?" and they said "he's been here many times." As she opened the wrapper, She noticed there was a tissue inside. As she pulled out the engagement ring, I proposed in Mandarin to her (she grew up in China, and I don't speak Mandarin!). She said YES! and the rest is history! Thank you to BV for making it a perfect planned proposal! #BVwasthere." - Stephen
"Our first wedding anniversary was celebrated with wine tasting at BV and purchasing and then enjoying this bottle of 1990 Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. This event was even more memorable by the signing the bottle by our wine tasting host. Still today, this bottle is displayed on our wine bar to explain our BV and Napa Valley visits and the memory of this wine. Thank you BV for many great memories." - Ralph
"I have a very good friend named Richard, whom I have known since middle school. Our lives have different paths, but we have always stayed close and shared important holidays and birthdays over a good bottle of wine. For at least 35 years, that bottle has been Georges de Latour Private Reserve. We like big, rich, complex, lively wines, but ones that exhibit restraint, decorum. This we find that in Georges. Especially memorable were the 1984 and 1985, the 1997 and the 1999 (which we didn't drink until years after release), the 2004 (which we drank on several occasions over several years), the 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, and of course the 2013. We usually have the wine with something simple such as a ribeye or a veal chop, so that the meal functions like the setting of a diamond. You've don't want to lose sight of what is important. We rarely share the wine, even with our wives. On our recent 70th birthday this past July we had the splendid 2017. Next year, we will drink the 2018, or maybe another 2004. It will be this way until we die.
With Georges, there is no chance that our palates will not be delighted, our spirits lifted. But it is not just the bottle we are drinking, for what we experience is enhanced by the memory of all those years and all those bottles of Georges we have drunk before. We arrive at the essence of the wine drinking experience, captured in the immortal words of Shakespeare's Sir John Falstaff (Henry IV, Part II), who most certainly would have been a regular in Rutherford: "It ascends me into the brain; dries me there all the foolish and dull and curdy vapours which environ it; makes it apprehensive, quick, forgetive, full of nimble fiery and delectable shapes, which, delivered over to the voice, the tongue, which is the birth, becomes excellent wit." "
"I have been fortunate to have tasted many, many outstanding wines and Marque since 1973 when a friend and I opened a wine store in Gainesville, Florida. We experienced decades of learning, tasting and educating ourselves. I’ve been able to taste a down most of the greatest and many with significant age. Three in particular stand out, though at this point I really probably remember “my stories” more than actual taste.They do remain hallmarks in my fifty years of wine involvement. 1945 Chateau Petrus, 2000 Chateau Ausone and 1958 BV Georges de Latour stand above so many more favorites- ‘53 Cheval Blanc, ‘66 Latour, Mondavi Reserves, Darioush Cabernet Franc, Continuum, and others.
I do remember my reaction to have sampled such an elegant, timeless Cabernet in its prime as I sat in my chrome Barber’s Chair, left over from my collegiate days at Florida. I tried my best to make it last but so wanted to continue to taste as it was simply spot on sublime. It exemplified the beauty that can be achieved from superior grapes, soil and winemaking at the right time. It was a unforgettable pleasure seldom seen." - Wade
"Before my parents were married in 1965, my mother had always wanted to visit San Francisco and the wine region. But her life took a different turn and she got married and had 5 children. Although my parents were great at taking their kids on trips that were meaningful and of which we have many fond memories, it wasn't until their 70th birthdays rolled around did they take a trip that was meaningful to them. My wife and I were able to take my parents on a wonderful trip to San Francisco and the wine country. Of the many wineries we visited my parents were most fond of our visit to BV. The staff were so engaged and taught my parents, and us, the joys of drinking port. We all took bottles home from that visit. My mother purchased a sweatshirt as well and wore it often until her death in 2019. Now that sweatshirt is mine and it brings me great comfort to think of that trip and our visit to BV. We continue to purchase and enjoy your wine with great pleasure and fondness." - Jeanine
"Celebrating 25 years since we made it official. We had a quiet celebration with our furbabies tonight.. We reminisced about the adventures, the friends, and the family who have been with us along the journey. We had an amazing dinner, talked about the next 25 and enjoyed a 25 year old favorite BV that "also" aged very well ;) Thank you all for the well wishes. We are truly counting our blessings. #bvwasthere" - Michele
"As far as I can remember growing up as a child with a father that immigrated to the states, he always had wine on the table at dinner. Growing up on a small family dairy was hard work and I always remember how tired my father was at the end of the day, but sitting down at the dinner table with his family and having a glass of wine at night would be the perfect end to a hard days work and put a smile on his face. Fast forward to the days that I can sit down with a bottle of wine after a hard days work makes me think of my father. Several years ago I discovered the Georges de Latour and was blown away. It quickly became my favorite and love to open during special occasions. One of those occasions is ensuring that it’s always on my dinner table when my father visits. Being able to come home after a hard days work like my father use to and being able to share this wine with him at dinner not only makes me think about how we grew up but puts a smile on my face now being able to share this memory/comment with him." - Joe
"We had just moved to Northern California in 2019 and we needed new appliances for our new home. At a local store we were fortunate enough to find a salesperson who, over the course of several months, greatly assisted us with our purchases. Wanting to
reward him in some way for all his helpful efforts that benefited us, I began to talk about all the wonderful wines of the area. He remarked that his favorite wine was BV Tapestry. He went on and on about all the remarkable traits of this fine wine, and that after all his many years, BV Tapestry was the only red wine he preferred. Well, I knew what I wanted as a gift to show our appreciation. I called the winery and fortunately Tapestry was in stock. They were very helpful and sent me two bottles. Many months had passed since seeing our sales friend, so we paid him a visit. He was pleasantly surprised that we would come see him. We let him know that all he had done for us made for a new happy home. His eyes lit up when I handed him the bottle of BV Tapestry and we were surprised that he began to tear up when we handed him the second bottle. He said that he was so touched by our thankful gift, and that we had actually remembered his most favorite wine. Over the years he had helped hundreds of customers, and this was the first time anyone had considered giving him an appreciation. And the fact that it was BV Tapestry, the wine he loved above all others, then this beautiful day would always be remembered. Thank you ,BV, this was a joyful moment for us all." - W. Scott
"We were on our honeymoon in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands in 2004 and we had our first formal dinner as a married couple at a restaurant called, "Room with a View." We ordered a bottle of BV Tapestry and we became hooked. We visited Napa in 2002 and we are bummed that we didn't find BV earlier or we would have visited your winery." - Dave
"
My husband and I have been together for 39 years (married for 34) this year. My BV story is memorable to me for a number of reasons. Of note, it takes place at your winery in Napa. Back in 2015, my daughter was 14 & attending a national regatta in San Francisco. We live in NJ and, never having been to Napa, my husband and I decided to go to CA. with her and do some of the wine country while she sailed. Having enjoyed BV (through all its varied label changes!) since we began dating, of course, a visit to your winery was on the top of our list. First, we happily imbibed varied selections in your Main Room. We purchased a couple of bottles for casual table drinking and then, we ventured to the Reserve Room. WOW - so many delicious wines from which to choose! In this room, we were a bit more circumspect as to our choices for purchase. While we later enjoyed all of the wines selected at our NJ home (after the proper wait in our wine refrigerator), at the time, we had difficulty agreeing upon our selections given the ample number of wines we had liked during the tasting. The result was we ended up leaving on the shelf one special Cab, perfectly aged, ready to drink, which I found particularly scrumptious. Driving back to our hotel, I dozed into a, not surprisingly, deep sleep. While I remained asleep, my Husband turned around, drove back to BV and left the car on with the a/c so that I didn't wake, and he bought that Cab! I was so Happy when he showed me. Since it was ready to drink, we enjoyed the bottle a few days later sitting on our balcony in a Sausalito Hotel overlooking the San Francisco Bay. It is a magical memory. I chose well - the wine and my Husband." - Leslie
"Years ago, I mistakenly ordered a magnum of Georges Latour. It turned out to be a very happy accident because we saved it until our 40th wedding anniversary, when we shared it with family and friends. It made for a very special toast." - Regina
"In 1961 I was living in Sonoma with my parents, I was 10 years old at the time. I am really dating myself now, which is good because I am for sure a SOS at the age of 70. Anyway, my parents asked me if I would like to come with them to see the BV winery, I said yes since the only wineries I'd ever seen were Sebastiani and Buena Vista, both in Sonoma. So I went with them, obviously I couldn't taste any wine, but my parents enjoyed their wine tasting, which in 1961 was free, imagine any winery in Napa Valley doing that now! After the wine tasting we all went on a guided tour of the winery, still remember that day vividly because of what happened in the massive barrel room. The tour guide was explaining the fermentation process to us when we got to one of the extremely large wooden barrels that had to be 15ft. tall. As a young boy I couldn't believe how large that barrel was, anyway there was a large opening that the guide said to look inside and smell the aroma. Everyone in the group did so including me, I found the aroma to be over whelming and because of that I could not get that smell out of my nose for a week. I kept asking my parents will this odor in my nose go away? Of course the smell eventually went away, my Dad said I had a good nose for wine. He was right, I enjoy a good red wine very much to this day, especially your exceptional Tapestry, best blend in the valley. I was also fortunate enough to have met Legh Knowles, not on my visit but years later, I was his chauffeur on many occasions, especially to S.F. airport. He was an extremely nice man, his voice was one you don't forget, the advertising he did on radio got me to purchase BV wines. I thought he was a better CEO than Mondavi, much more personable and always had time to chat. When I drove him around I told him about my visit with my parents, he loved the story, and told me those large wooden casks were gone. I believe it was Legh that brought Napa Valley the recognition it deserved, truly a gentleman. Hope you enjoyed my memories of BV winery. I'm hoping to have many more as my wife and I come up often. - Dennis
"Drink no wine before it's time." - William
"We moved into a house in Allison, Iowa last year. Down in the basement we found the 2 bottles and I brought them upstairs and cleaned them up. One of the bottles still has wine inside, the other is empty. I love the Old Vintage feel of both bottles so I keep them on my kitchen counter." - Evelyn
"After my wife at the time and I were married for a few years, we did like most couples do and tried to start a family. Unfortunately, we had nothing but problems and after several lost pregnancies, my ex-wife and I were feeling very frustrated and weren't sure if it was in the cards for us. We needed a vacation to relax and have some fun so we decided to go to Las Vegas. We checked in to the Mandalay Bay and booked dinner at their signature restaurant, Aureole. They had a 2 story wine tower with "wine angels" suspended from cables flying up and down getting whatever wines were ordered. It was very cool. We looked over their incredible wine list and ultimately selected the 1997 BV Clone 6. Dinner was amazing and so was the wine. I won't share all the details but 9 months later from that night, we had our first child! There's no telling what a great bottle of wine can do for you" - Michael
"I was on a business trip to Chicago and was at dinner with a large party of business associates at a fine dining establishment in the city. In order to celebrate the occasion, we ordered several bottles of the BV Tapestry Red (2017 if I recall) which was enjoyed by all in our party. The sommelier came over to our table during the evening, to discover for himself who among the restaurant patrons had ordered three bottles (and counting) from his "favorite winery". Delighted to meet us, he then proceeded to share his experiences with BV, and that he had even named his cat "Georges de Latour"! The wine made for a memorable evening, and the sommelier's own affinity for the winery and his story, all the more so." - Patrick
"In the late 1990's I went to the Napa region for my first time. My friend and I visited several wineries, but the one that stuck out was BV. They treated two young wine drinkers like royalty. The wine was awesome and the whole visit was amazing. From that day forward, I became a BV faithful follower. Any and all of my family members and friends know that if they are coming over or my wife and I are visiting them, there will be at least one bottle of BV opened. In 2019, my wife and I, along with two of our friends finally got back to the Napa area. The first place on my list of wineries was BV. Although the winery appeared to have changed and grown over 20 years, the service and thoughtful attention were as great as ever. We loved every drop of our tastings, and were even invited to tour the wine production building. My wife is a winemaker at a small winery here in Ramona, so she was thrilled to get to see the BV operation. Simply put, BV is the BEST!" - Edward
"I've just opened a bottle of 1990 BV Special Burgundy, which is surprisingly perfectly drinkable, and clear as a bell. But back to the beginning. In the 1980s, while courting my future wife, the big night out was dinner at the Derby Steakhouse in Greenwich Village. The Derby had this old world atmosphere of dark wood, leather banquettes,and the brazier in the center of the dining room. We would splurge and order steak for two, carved tableside. Each time a bottle of BV Rutheford was the perfect match.
Later, working as chef in a neighborhood Village restaurant, I had the task of creating an affordable wine list. It was then I ran across BV Special Burgundy...It was a hit. I ordered cases, the carpenter ordered cases and a banker friend did too, who cellared the bottle I just opened.
That it has aged so well these 33 years is a testament to the winemaking at Beaulieu. Keep up the good work.,
PS the Derby is now a sports bar you never want to enter
But BV Rutheford rocks on, dust and all." - Louis
"Our first trip to Napa was an adventure we will never forget. We celebrated my husband’s 40th birthday in wine country and BV was one of the highlights! Our brother-in-law introduced us to this amazing wine a few years ago, and we couldn’t wait to visit. We sat in the courtyard on a beautiful October day and had the most amazing host, Dan, who told us this was his retirement job. What a lucky man! Every time my husband wears his BV half-zip, we remember that amazing day. Hope to break open a Georges De La Tour sometime in the near future." - Lindsey
"We took a walk through our own woods and when we turned the corner and came into the clearing. There was a blanket set out with a picnic basket and bucket with ice and a nice bottle of BV wine. It was such a lovely surprise I was so shocked my husband would do such a romantic thing!!!!" - Jodi
"Great time celebrating my Wife's 50th birthday while on a winery tour in Central California. We traveled with friends and family! " - Jake
"#BVwasthere through college, graduation, parent's celebration (of course because they introduced me to Beaulieu Vineyard wines) and of course on my annual girl's trip. So many memories made and so thrilled to have Beaulieu Vineyard be a part of it." - Bailey
"I first visited Napa in 1978 and my very first vineyard tour was BV. Our guide was an older gentleman and I asked him about Latour to which he responded “ if we can’t make a great cab we don’t deserve our khakis
Since then I continue to buy BV Latour and my first tasting with my wine group in 2008 I presented a vertical of Latour 80-92. Needless to say it was a hit and garnered some new BV converts." - Russell
#BVwasthere
"My name is Ron, and my story is how BV made a profound change in my life. The year was 1992. My friends Richard and Mary, who crewed for me on the schooner Apache, picked up a job as caretakers for a home on the cliff at the water’s edge entering Sausalito. It was owned by a gentleman named Bill. At the time, he was the oldest standing member of the Sausalito Yacht Club.
Bill and his wife tragically passed away in a plane crash leaving Catalina Island not long after Richard and Mary began working for them. About a month later, Richard called me to ask if Bill’s family could charter the schooner Apache to scatter their ashes out at sea. I found out later schooners were Bill's favorite boats. My response was, “It would be my honor to do that for them.”
A few weeks later, Bill's family asked Richard and Mary to go through the items in the storage area below the house and clear it out. They discovered 12 cases of wine in an area where the temperature was a constant 60°. Richard called me and asked if I could come up and have a look at the cases of wine that they had found. At the time I lived on my schooner Apache in Pelican Harbour, Sausalito. I left the boat and arrived at the home with Richard waiting anxiously in front to show me into the kitchen with the cases of wine spread all over. I said, “Well, let’s have a look!”
We found Ginestet 1961 Bordeaux, Mondavi 1969 and Simi 1970 Cabernets. About 15 minutes later we discovered two cases of BV Georges de Latour 1969! I was stunned. Richard asked, “What’s wrong?” I replied, “Oh my god, this is a gold mine! You need to contact Bill's family and get this to them.” He began to explain to me that the family doesn’t drink, and that I was the only person to offer to take Bill and his wife out to sea and not ask for any money. “The wine is yours.” I was humbled and thanked them, then suggested that we must open a bottle of Georges de Latour, and see if it’s still good. That was a no-brainer!
It was many years ago, but I’ll never forget the anticipation while allowing the wine to breathe. What an incredible experience it was to drink a 1969 BV Georges de Latour that has rested for so many years. It was that evening that I learned to appreciate the benefits of wine aging. It was delicious. Through the years on many special occasions with very special friends, I would indulge and open a bottle of the 1969 Georges de Latour. I have one bottle left which I will never open but will look at it with fond memories of Bill and his wife, and Richard and Mary." - Ron
"Everyone appreciates the Private Reserve, but there's another BV wine that I find even more fascinating: the BV Burgundy.
I've been a traveling cellar hand for the past 10 years, working on both coasts of the US, as well as in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. I learned many things during my travels, but the lesson that really stuck with me is: the truly great producers of any region are those who have the most respect and deference for history.
So, I've become a bit obsessive about wine history. Now that I am in California, I consume as much history about my region as I can, whether it's modern surveys like Pinney's "History of Wine in America", old winemaking manuals like Rixford's 1883 "The Wine Press & the Cellar", or podcasts like Jim Duane's "Inside Winemaking". I find it all fascinating.
One book I read was "The Winemaker", by Dick Peterson, who succeeded Andre Tchelistchef as winemaker at BV in the late '60s. In it, he talks about making "California Burgundy", which at the time was a blend of Mondeuse Noir, Napa Gamay (aka Valdiguie) and hard-press Pinot Noir. I became really intrigued by the old "generic type" wines that were such a staple of the California wine business in the 50s, 60s and 70s: the so-called "California Burgundy" and California Claret" wines.
That intrigue grew into a bit of an obsession, and in 2020, when I started my own small wine brand Slamdance Koöperatieve. Wines, I knew I wanted to recreate the old "California Burgandy" wines. So, for the last few years, I've been making red blend of Napa Gamay, Pinot St George, Black Malvoisie, Bastardo, Mission and a few other old-fangled varieties.
But, I'd still never had an old "California Burgundy". But recently, a friend of mine, Tegan Passalacqua, told me where I might be able to find some old bottles. Lo and Behold! I managed to find 2 bottles of 1974 BV Burgundy on auction!!!
My partner and I recently opened one of the bottles, for my birthday. Dick Peterson had said that the BV Burgundy would last 30 or 40 years. I'm happy to report that our bottle, while probably at the tail end of the plateau, was in wonderful shape. At 48 years old, no less!
Anyway, that's my #BVwasthere story!" - Daniel
"I HAVE TRIED MANY WINES FROM NAPA AND AROUND THE WORLD. NONE ARE AS GOOD TASTING AS BV. MY WIFE AND I WILL BE CELEBRATING OUR 41 ANNIVERSARY AND I HAVE BEEN SAVING A GEORGES DE LATOUR FOR IT. IT'S THE BEST WAY OF CELEBRATING SUCH A SPECIAL OCCASION. I JUST ORDERED FROM YOUR COLLECTION AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO SINCE THERE IS NO BETTER WINE! THANK YOU" - SIDNEY
"I think it was in the late 1970’s when I started getting interested in wine. I was in my early 30’s and lived in Santa Barbara. I started looking up books or articles, I think of Robert Parker, and thinking of heading up to Napa area on a vacation. I defiantly read about BV’s George de Latour private reserve Cabernet and especially the 1968. So off I went for a few days vacation and as I drove up Hwy 29 there it was near Rutherford on the right hand side. I pulled over and went into the tasting room ( I don’t remember a lot about it) but since I was driving I just tasted little and asked if the 1968 George de Latour was available. And it was $50 I think I recall. I bought the one bottle and just a few years later I opened it up to share with a few friends. Needless to say it seduced me into my current love for wine. I’m not an often drinker (mostly with meals with my wife and a few friends). But I have drunk a few bottles of very fine and highly rated wines but none have captured my love for wine and even life itself like that first bottle of BV. Thank You." - Owen
"In 1977 I was a "wine steward" at a local restaurant in Ogunquit Maine. My knowledge was extremely limited, but I heard of a wine labeled "Georges de Latour private reserve 1974" as being an excellent wine. At a local wine shop, the price was $7.99 per bottle, which, at the time, was darn expensive. I convinced two friends of mine to pool our resources and purchase 2 cases at $7.49 per bottle. We have thoroughly enjoyed the wine over the years, and I still have four bottles! along with two bottles of 1968 and 1970. Fantastic wines!" - Stephen
"My daughter got married last December, and she knows how much me and my wife enjoy Beaulieu Vineyard wines, my daughter made sure to have bottle for us at the table!" - Harold
"BV was there for my son's wedding. The first child to get married! Only way to celebrate is with BV." - Kristin
"My family has a 100 year old cabin in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and we start every summer with a BV Sauvignon Blanc. Happy Summer" - Chris
"As a young Air Force enlisted stationed at Beale AFB near Marysville, I went to my first wine tasting at BV in 1978. My complete total of wine knowledge was red or white. I learned so much, and had no idea of what to taste or what to look for. My daughter was born in 1990, and after many years of her riding with us to the vineyard, she demanded that at age 21, I would bring her back. In Oct of 2011, we all had relocated, I was in Arizona, but I got us all tickets to CA, and we went. Promise made and kept. Loved the entire trip. I’m now in Alaska, trying to plan another trip with my daughter and her husband. Thanks to BV for being a part of our lives!" - Tony
"My 93-year-old mother recently passed away. My siblings and their children, and their children, are scattered throughout the country but came to town to say good-bye to her. Everyone gathered in my yard the evening after the funeral, and we all shared stories about growing up under my mother's watchful eye. BV wines were being served and everyone kept talking about how much they were enjoying the wine, which of course kept everyone talking about the influence both of my parents had on our lives. There were plenty of laughs, hugs and tears. We are unable to gather like that on a regular basis which made that evening so very special. BV wines added to the atmosphere, and no one was in a hurry to leave. Thanks, BV, for helping that special evening to be as special as it was." - Michael
"First tried BV IN THE 1970s and it was and still is great." - Anthony
"After a long 10 hour work day at the end of the day a glass of BV Cab helps melt the stress." - Daniel
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"Since I first tasted BV wines, nearly twenty years ago, I knew there was something different, something special. BV is how I got into understanding what good wine really was in my early twenties. Every since then, I always find a way to include a special BV as part of my birthday dinner. As a member of the Library Club, prior to its closing, I had the privilege of tasting many great wines like this Clone. For my 40th birthday in 2023, I have my eye on the 1983 Georges de Latour (even though the '82 had much better reviews) to accompany my meal! In between now and then, I still have a few great bottles from our trip to BV last month that I plan to enjoy with my wife." - Robert
"At the age of eight, my siblings and I learned to drive in an old limousine town car. Barely able to see over the steering wheel, we’d drive up and down the roads of our Napa County vineyards with one of us pretending to be a chauffeur while the rest of the clan were the boisterous passengers, using the microphone to talk between the front and back seats. That car was our playhouse as well as a mode of transportation around the ranch.
In 1929, my mother was born in a white Victorian house located on the BV property where the tasting room now stands. My grandfather, Eugenio Defilippis, had emigrated from Switzerland to help Georges de Latour grow the Beaulieu Winery. Eugenio became Georges right-hand man and when celebrities visited BV, Eugenio would drive them around the valley in a glamourous 1925 Cadillac limousine. Georges bequeathed the car to my grandfather, which he used for hunting and touring with his family of eight. When the Victorian was torn down to make way for the tasting room, my grandparents moved to Calistoga and the Cadillac limousine moved to our family ranch.
Once we all graduated from high school, my dad stored the car in our horse barn. At the retirement dinner for my Godfather, Uncle Bob, who had worked for BV his entire career, I was seated at his table with André Tchelistcheff, and Tim, the then President of Beaulieu. As we conversed, I mentioned to Tim that we had something that may interest Beaulieu, and I told him about the car. His eyes lit up and I arranged for him to meet my mom and dad.
BV created a wonderful publicity event about “discovering the lost Cadillac” in our barn. I was in attendance the day it was pulled out of the horse barn to great fanfare and multiple camera flashes.
The car was never lost.
It was always with our family creating memories. With our ancestral connection to BV, we were delighted to send this historic 1925 Cadillac Imperial Touring Car back home to Beaulieu Vineyards where it could reclaim its former glory.
Perhaps one day Eugenio and the Cadillac will be celebrated on a BV wine label! That will be a collectible bottle.
The rare 1925 Cadillac Imperial Touring Car has been restored to its original grandeur and the rest is history.
Salute…à votre santé!" - Cynthia
"My husband and I tried BV on a whim…we are huge cab fans, and absolutely loved it! As our children grew to young adults we would share lesser quality wines with them because, hey, they’re beer drinking boys and I’m not wasting my good wine on them…yet! The youngest comes home from his first year in college for Thanksgiving and we offer the lesser quality wine for them and the youngest said “you don’t drink very good wine.” I asked my college beer drinking freshman how he knew what good wine tasted like and he informed us he had been to his buddies parents house and they served better wine than what we offered him. We then poured him a glass of a BV cab sauv and he decided our taste in wine was far superior to the friends’ parents….jump ahead a few years. Same son is getting married and being as he is freshly out of college, decided to supply the wine for his wedding…costing $3 a bottle! Needless to say, we provided BV for the event and everyone enjoyed every sip. We’ve even shared our Georges with them! After aforementioned son was married, my husband was on a baseball road trip with a buddy. They were pictured on tv holding a sign with a happy birthday message to me while I was home cooking my birthday dinner for my sons, respective wives and grandchildren. Said grandchildren hollered their grandfather was on tv! Needless to say I wasn’t impressed…he was in California and I was home..cooking my birthday dinner for 7! He made it up to me with a case of BV wine and a wine club subscription…all was forgiven." - Belinda
"I was incredibly excited to try the 2019 Georges de Latour; and our first anniversary was the perfect time to celebrate love of each other and good wine. On a beautiful sunset sail we got to enjoy this magnificent wine and one year of building our lives together." - Laura
"The night.i got engaged was at Crow's Nest in Santa Cruz, CA. We enjoyed a bottle over dinner, went out to the beach. The ocean sparkled and there were boats around. My BF got down on his knees and asked me to marry him. I said Yes.. that was in 1984.. it's now 2022 and we are still married thanks to that bottle of delicious BV......38 years later" - Linda
"Despite subsequent trips to wine country in Spain and Italy my most memorable wine is the 1974 Georges de Latour enjoyed at a fine french restaurant the maisonette in Cincinnati the bouquet filled the room and the taste was unforgettable.' - Barry
"When my (now) husband and I began dating in 2010 he did not drink wine. I was a wine lover, with my first visit to BV in 1980. I slowly got him to taste my favorites from my collection, which moved with me to his house in 2011. As he acquired a taste for wine he realized he just never had fine wine, By 2012, when we married, it was in the midst of the Colorado wine festival in Palasaide CO. He tasted, rejected the wines as not good enough, A few years later I convinced him it was time for him to take a trip to wine country, California. I arranged for a vertical tasting of his favorite, Cabernet, at my favorite BV. Durning the tasting he turned to me and said “now I understand what you mean when you say it needs more time”. That was the moment I turned him into what I call a wine snob. We joined the BV club, returning for a visit a few more times, always purchasing much more while there. When his daughter married in a small ceremony because it was in the midst of the Covid pandemic, we offered to supply the wine from our cellar: BV Tapestry. Because if BV’s reputation, we were a hit with her new in laws. His metamorphosis is all due to BV!" - Carol
"My wife and did a wine tasting at BV back in September 1987 on our honeymoon and purchased a 1984 Georges De Latour and despite not storing in a wine cooler it was still fantastic on our 20th Anniversary cruise where we enjoyed the bottle with some friends. Ages we’ll just like my wife of 35 years now." - Dale
"Back in the day in 1971, Matues or basket weaved Chianti was the wine of choice. I stumbled upon a gentlemen who was selling his wine collection and amongst a couple of 1969 Robert Mondavi. There were two bottles of George La tour Cabernets. Keep in mind I was making $4.25 with $.25 night bonus so the four bottles went for $75. This was the best 75 bucks I ever spent . It will be a monumental time when my palate made a abrupt 360. Now I look for and purchase only Rutherford or Oakville and definitely stay with BV George La Tour or Tapestry." - William
"I was incredibly excited to try the 2019 Georges de Latour; and our first anniversary was the perfect time to celebrate love of each other and good wine. On a beautiful sunset sail we got to enjoy this magnificent wine and one year of building our lives together." - Laura
"When my wife and I got married on June 23, 1985, I insisted that we serve BV wines at the wedding. It was a GREAT move!" - Dave
"The best Cab I ever had was in 1990, a bottle of 1968 BV. It was smooth as an icy ocean and tasted gorgeous from beginning to end. This was a regular bottle of BV I got from my uncle's wine shop in 1971. I kept it for 20 years below my steps and opened it for Thanksgiving dinner in 1990. It exceeded my expectations and made me a fan of BV wines. I have since graduated to George de Latour and Clones 4 & 6." - Richard
"My wife who has since passed away, never drank wine. One morning my cousin who loved wine and toured wineries every weekend joined me at my home. I opened a bottle of BV Georges de Latour which I had in my cellar. I poured two glasses and when my wife walked into the kitchen I handed her my glass and said here taste this. She did and said "ooo that's nice" when my cousin came in I said " guess which wine Mary likes. " - Thomas
"Our five children grew up drinking the finer Napa Cabernet wines at dinnertime, including Georges de Latour during 1980s-90s. When the youngest and her husband visited your vineyard a few years ago, they were taken to the regular tasting room. She indicated that they wanted to buy a few cases of Georges de Latour to ship home (Dad was buying naturally). Suddenly, they were whisked away to a VIP room much to their delight … we thought that was hilarious at the time and I wanted to share the experience with you folks." - Mike
"I bought my first house this year. I spent my first night in it the evening I closed completely empty and enjoyed BV on the floor celebrating with my friend the enormous accomplishment." - Jessica
"So far, for me it has been forty-six years of enjoying BV wines. When I was a junior in college in 1975, I decided to become a “wine expert.” From the newspaper ads in Austin, Texas, the most impressive names to me were Château this or Château that. So I started by trying wines from Bordeaux that I could afford. I learned what grape varieties were used and also started looking for American wines that were made from the same varieties. Most wines did not state on their labels what grape types were used. But then I discovered BV Beau Tour. On the back label it clearly stated how much Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot were used in that vintage. Being within my price range, it became my red wine of choice for years. I often selected it for special dinner dates with the young woman who would become my wife, and I still have the label from a 1984 Beau Tour bottle that was the wine at dinner on Christmas Day, 1987, during a very memorable get-together with her family. My income gradually grew with my wine knowledge, and over time my wife and I began hosting wine tasting parties with our closest friends. One of my favorites was the Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet tasting, at which we included BV Coastal, Beau Tour, Napa Valley, Rutherford, Tapestry, and Georges Latour. Rutherford, especially, continues to be one of our very favorite wines, and—on extra special occasions—Georges Latour." - Richard
"My first visit to Napa Valley with my wife was in the early 1980's. We had both discovered, explored and enjoyed "wine". A few years earlier I can still remember the first George Latour private reserve I tasted which was a 1973. St. Helena Highway was barren compared to today. Our first stop was Robert Mondovi sitting by itself on the left. Just up the road our second stop was Beaulieu... I remember stopping at Heitz, Beringer, Krug, and a few more. All seemed only a 5 minute drive from each other. You could visit ( carefully) way too many in just a few hours. I have been a fan of BV ever since. It has always been reliable, consistent and enjoyable Cabernet." - Glenn
"When my daughter turned 21 on 3-12-2004 she wanted to visit Napa we made reservations for a private tour of Beaulieu Vineyard after the tour my daughter asked if they had a bottle of Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from the year of her birth 1983 we were surprised they did. They bought back a wine cellar from San Francisco after the owner passed away. Every year on my Grandfathers birthday we would meet at my parent’s house open a bottle of his wine and toast him. Over the years we toasted all of his wine so we would contribute a bottle of wine for toasting. The next year my daughter contributed her bottle of 1983 Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. It was so elegant, velvety, lush fruits, beautiful color and aromas the best wine we had ever tasted. So, from then on Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon has been my wine of choice for my cellar." -Timothy
"Annual pre-Christmas party at my mother's co-partner of wine ship on Greenfield Hill, CT, home and drinking copious amounts of BV '74 and 78's while eating baked ham along with Kaye's scalloped potatoes and talking and mingling around in the mid-late 80's. always the smoothest, silky bordeaux style. mind you, retail priced at only $38 as i recall. indelible memories." - Bradford
"My wife Donna and I were married in 1984 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. With both families being of modest means, we arranged our own wedding and honeymoon. Our honeymoon involved a three week camping trip from Calgary to San Francisco in a pup tent, driving a used two door Ford Escort - manual transmission, manual windows, manual locks and no air conditioning - first class. We were already starting to enjoy "better" wines with friends and had graduated from the finest of university blends. We had enjoyed a Georges de Latour with a friend in Calgary, so a visit to the winery in Napa was part of the itinerary. We stayed in camp grounds around Napa at the lofty price of some $5 to $7 a night, and visited half a dozen wineries, almost always getting the best wine each winery offered. That included the first two bottles of Georges de Latour that we personally bought. We enjoyed one in the pup tent, and we saved one to add to what we expected would become part of a "nice" wine room and library in our future home. We had a five year plan to buy that first dream home, but nine months after returning from our pup tent honeymoon, our first of two sons arrived. The wine room and library were postponed. The nervousness related to becoming a father a little earlier than expected led me to drink all bottles collected on that trip. Today, I'm celebrating the 38th year of our marriage; the first year of my retirement; our annual member-guest golf tournament; which I alternate between our two grown sons, with our grand children in attendance; and we opened a bottle of 2014 George de Latour from my little wine cellar. I finally built that wine cellar in 2015. Unfortunately, I'm down to my last 29 bottles of George de Latour in my "little" cellar with only 1,451 bottles remaining - thinking, how blessed and lucky we have been. Georges de Latour is just an exceptional wine to enjoy with life's finest moments with family and friends - thank you."
Marinus and Donna
"My first child was born in 1997. BV Tapestry has always been one of my favorite wines, so when they became available I purchased a case of the 1997 BV Tapestry. Through the years I enjoyed the bottles making sure that they would hold up. On my son Maxwell's 21 birthday, we enjoyed a very special bottle of 1997 BV Tapestry and were able to enjoy a bottle from his birth year. It was a great moment, for all of us. I would recommend that everyone who enjoys wine, purchase wines from their children's birth year to share with them at the right time." - Anthony
"Received a bottle of the 1988 George Latour from my wife’s uncle shortly after we were married in 1991. Opened it for one of our first anniversaries and loved it. In 2003 we were in Napa and stopped by BV, I wanted to buy a bottle of the 1991 for future anniversaries, lucky for me they were tasting the 1991 that day and had a bottle I could buy. It was truly enjoyed when it was opened for our 25th. Great way to Celebrate" - Kramer
"I have been anxiously waiting for your release of the 2019 vintage Georges de Latour Cab and was so excited to discover that James Suckling awarded it 100 points. I purchased it for my grand daughter, Charlie, who was born in 2019, to extend our extremely special family tradition of putting away wines for our children to enjoy on their 21st birthday. It started with our daughter Jennifer in 1978 and continued with our son Jason in 1982. We asked the Contra Costa Times' Wine experts which Cabernet might be good enough to stand the test of time for 21 years, so that we could purchase wines harvested in our childrens' birth years and put them away for them to enjoy when they celebrate their 21st birthdays. Two wines were recommended: BV Georges de Latour Private Reserve and Al and Boots Brounstein's Diamond Creek single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. We excitedly purchased a case of the 1978 and 1982 BV and a case from Diamond Creek for the same years. We nurtured them over the years and were able to surprise our children with an awesome surprise to celebrate their 21st birthdays. They enjoyed this tradition so much that we have now purchased "Birthday Cabs" for our grandchildren, Ethan and Sam born in 2016 and Charlie who was born in 2019. Our children can now be a special part of the surprise for their children and hopefully the tradition will continue long after we are gone. We love winetasting at BV and love the excellence of Georges de Latour as it's grace is spread round the world, like being served at the White House by Ronald Reagan. When we want to celebrate big and bold, Georges de Latour is our first choice. Thank you for the tradition of excellence that we have been able to share with family and friends in such a delicious way. #BVwas there and will be for all of our birthday celebrations. P.S. We also had an amazing experience at your tasting room on Pier 39 many years ago when we happened to drop in on the day you were giving a vertical tasting of Georges de Latour. It was an exceptionally elegant experience; once in a lifetime." - Julia
"It was about 1985 that I was introduced to BV Georges de Latour. It was by a wonderful gentleman named Dmitri Tchelistcheff. I was born and raised on Maui, Hawaii and met Dmitri at a friend's house in Kula. My friend was the owner of a wine store and his name was Harlan Hughes. Dmitri taught me about wine... how to taste it, how to let it breathe, temperature control, how to look for different flavors and mostly how to pace myself! We would meet weekly with at least 8 people who brought different wines to taste in a blind tasting and have a barbeque afterward. I'll never forget the one tasting where everyone was to bring a bottle from France's great Bordeaux Estates and Dmitri brought an unnamed bottle. Needless to say, the George de Latour 1970 was the winner of that blind tasting of 1970's beating out Chateau La Fite Rothschild, Chateaux Margaux, Chateaux Haut Brion, Chateaux Petrus, Chateaux Mouton Rothschild, and Chateaux St. Emilion. Simply AMAZING! It was then that he shared the story of his father, Andre Tschelistcheff who was the vintner at BV and who stunned the world with his win at a tasting against the world's best wines. I have been enjoying BV George de Latour ever since. I always have a case stashed in my closet for only the finest of occasions. I was truly saddened by Dmitri's passing, but I remember fondly his jovial laugh, red complexion when he had some glasses of wine, and he infected me with his LOVE of fine wine. God bless and keep you Dmitri! See you again someday!" - Kim
"I am a big fan of BV and have visited the tasting room many times. I have started the tradition of buying a bottle of Latour for all of my friend's children for their birth year. My feeling is that they will always age well and that the parents and child can share that bottle when the child comes of age." - Michael
"It was just last month when my husband, and I, met up with my stepbrother and his wife at the Rutherford Grill for lunch. They live in Washington and we live in Roseville, CA. We were step-siblings as children and spent time with each other every summer as we were growing up. We hadn’t seen each other for many years. And, this was the first time we met his wife. They were in Napa celebrating their wedding anniversary.
We reconnected in May 2022 when we found out that our mutual youngest half-sister, Kelly, was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. We stayed in touch over those 3 months as she declined, and unfortunately passed in July 2022. We planned and looked forward to getting together in September 2022 in Napa.
After our lunch at the Rutherford Grill we all walked over to Beaulieu Vineyard to do some tasting, and spend a bit more time together. It was a wonderful afternoon reminiscing, and honoring our sister. We enjoyed the wonderful wines so much that we all became members of the Le Corps de Latour that day.
I feel that Kelly brought us together after all these years, and we couldn’t have found a better place to celebrate her, and our long overdue reunion. It will always be remembered as a very special day. We are planning future dates where we meet again at Beaulieu Vineyard." - Dianne
BV has been there through every Monday. Need wine to start the week off right! - William
"My wife and I have been together for over 40 years. Well 40 years ago when we had a special occasion or just wanted a special wine, we would get BV Rutherford. Some things never change and to this day the same holds true. When we have a special occasion or want a special wine, we still get a BV Rutherford. Thanks for the memories through all these years." - Russell
"Drinking Georges de Latour and Tapestry wines with family on Thanksgiving. Great wine and great company." - Eric
"When I was young, I recall that my parents enjoyed good wine. At some point there were two cases of 1966 BV Georges De Latour in our basement. They were slowly consumed, mostly on special occasions. I had the opportunity to try some and truly enjoyed it. As the years went by, I eventually graduated from college in 1982. I recalled that my father still at least one bottle of that 1966 GDL in his possession. When I returned home after college graduation to pack up the last of my things for the big move from the east coast to California (the Bay Area, so close to BV!) I looked in the storage area to see if that bottle was still there. It was!
My father asked me what I was looking for and I told him that I was looking to see if he still had the 1966 BV, and please don't drink it without me! His response was that we would open it right now in celebration of my college graduation. We did and enjoyed an outstanding bottle of Cabernet together. It was the last of the very special occasions with my family for that terrific vintage. It was so special that I still have that very bottle on display in my home today.
The tradition continued. When my wife and I were married a few years later, the reception venue was quite clear that no outside drinks were allowed in. I had my best man sneak a bottle of 1977 BV into the reception for just a few of us at the bridal party table. My wife, now of 34 years, enjoyed our surreptitious special wine that evening on yet another very special occasion." - Tom
"My very first glass of Cabernet Sauvignon was in 1977 and was a BV Rutherford. I fell in love with Cabs and BV in particular and have been a loyal fan ever since." - Carl
"I never tasted wine until my early twenties. I learned a great deal in a short period of time because I was fortunate enough to be "tutored" about great wine from my boss. He was a self taught wine expert through a combination of extensive reading and a true taste for the complex components and flavors of a wine. He had a modest cellar but it contained some very fine wines. He let me taste some great cabernet sauvignons and I was hooked. I fell under the spell of cabernet sauvignon and eagerly anticipated my next visit to the "cellar." Then one day he shared a Georges de Latour Private Reserve. He would share one of these incredible bottles of wine with me from time to time but I started growing impatient for the next bottle. After a while I did not want to depend on my friend's generosity and starting buying my own Georges de Latour. Always enjoying its complexities especially the Rutherford Dust as my mentor referred to it. I loved the BV Rutherford and Napa wines too but I always looked forward to my next bottle of Georges de Latour." - David
"We visited the winery in May 2022 for a tasting, having made purchases via the web over the previous years. In that we have been fans of V. Sattui wines since the late 90s, we were overwhelmed with the quality and more importantly STYLE of wines produced at BV. We fell in love with your wines and immediately joined the Le Corp de Latour Club. It isn't much of a BV story, but we expect and hope we will be members for years to come and look forward to the quality that Trevor provides." - Stan
"Because we lived in Sacramento and because Napa was a romantic getaway, my late husband courted me with lovely trips to the Wine Country. It was the early 1970s and we fell in love with BV wines, especially the 1965 Private Reserve Cabernet which we carried home by the caseloads.
After we married, we continued our love affair with Napa Valley and we delighted in visiting the BV tasting room with the multi-media presentation highlighting the seasons of the winery; through all the years, the ’65 never ceased being our favorite.
During the Summer we would close the office early on Tuesdays and waterski at nearby Folsom Lake…always with at least one bottle of the ’65 Private Reserve which we would savor while the sun went down and we celebrated wine and life as if we were the only people on earth.
Even now, 47 years later, memories of our own special world come flooding back with every taste of the Private Reserve and I am once again mesmerized by the magic of the wine and the kiss of the setting sun." - Pat
"My husband and I came to Napa 43 years ago on our honeymoon. We didn't know a lot about wine back then, but we found BV. We have been fans ever since. When we moved to the San Francisco Bay Area 26 years ago, BV was our first visit. We became members and have been enjoying BV wines ever since. We served BV wines at both our daughter's and son's weddings, we serve at our house quite often, and recently changed our membership level to include Georges de Latour wines. Our daughter has become a fan too and although she lives in Virginia, we manage to send her BV wines too. No sharing of our BV experiences would be complete without acknowledging the great staff. Being so close to Napa, we often visit the tasting room. The staff is extremely gracious and knowledgeable. They have introduced us to great wines including a variety of wines that we did not know about, including a new favorite wine - Hewitt. Actually, we are going for a long weekend in Napa with 4 other couples, and can't wait to introduce them to BV and Georges de Latour wines. Thank you for all you do for your customers." - Myrna
"In 1986 while dining at Bern's Steakhouse in Tampa, FL, and perusing the extensive wine list I spotted a half bottle of BV Private Reserve 1946. Could not pass it by. The wine and the steak were great!" - Timothy
"Back in the 1960's my ex and I used to collect BV wines. I worked for United Vintners at the time. We were divorcing and we had an extensive collection including George Latour He was recruited to teach school in Australia and before he left, he asked if I could throw a wine party. I did. We invited our many friends and he donated his entire collection to the event. It took place the day after Thanksgiving in the early 1970's. It was an unforgettable event. We had some 1968 burgundy, pinot noirs, cabernets & Latour. We finished off with Port. It was an evening I will never forget. I really miss the outstanding burgundys BV produced back in those days and of course the Latour as always were wonderful. " - Sandi
