PIONEERS Of The WINE WORLD

“Although Most of These Pioneers, Legends and Forefathers Are Dead These Are the Wine People That Have Influenced Me the Most Through My Wine Journey.  Either by Literature or Word of Mouth, My Knowledge of Wine is Base On Their Teachings and the Legacy They Left and My Bibliography Would Be Untrue and Incomplete Without Them“

  • PIONEERS– Someone Who Develops or is the First to Use or Apply a New Methods, Knowledge or Activity
  • FOREFATHER– Member of Past Generations of One’s Family, or People, an Ancestor
  • LEGEND– An Extremely Famous Or Notorious Person, Especially In a Particular Field

**Refer to Proper Locations For Information On These Pioneers of the Wine World.  These Mentions Are Only Snipets and Detailed Explanation Can Be Found There.

Pioneers of the Old World

  • ~Elio Altare~ “Barolo”, Outspoken Producer and Leader of Modern Barolo Movement
  • ~Marchese Peiro Antinori~ “Tuscany”, President of Antinori, Shaped Tuscan Wine
  • ~Anthony Barton~ “Medoc”, Owner/ Custodian of Leoville-Barton & Langoa-Barton
  • ~The Barolo Boys~ “Piemonte”, Producers to Came Together In Comradeship and Spirt to Make What They Perceived as the Best Barolo They Could.
    • This Group of Men and One Women Followed What They Thought Was a Revolutionary Movement and Brought Enormous Change to the History of Wine Making In the Langhe. Barolo Boys(Others)- Chiaro Boschis, Giorgio Rivetti, Roberto Voerzio
  • ~Marchesa de Barolo~ “Barolo”, 1850, Noblewomen Who First Defined Barolo as a Wine
  • ~Gerard Basset~ “England’, Award Winning WS., MW., and Hotelier
  • ~Domizio Cavazza~ “Barbaresco”, Created First Co-Operitive(Cantine Sociali), Considered God-Father of Barbaresco
  • ~Beppe Colla~ “Barolo”, One of Founding Fathers of Barolo, Help Define DOC., and First to Promote Single Vineyard Barolo
  • ~Lalou Bize-Leroy~ “France”, Former Co-Winemaker at Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Who Is Now Winemaker at Domaine D’Auvenay and Domaine Leroy
  • ~Micheal Broadbent~ “England”, MW., Wine Critic, Author
  • ~Moderates Columella~ “Rome”, 500’s, Roman Author Who’s 12 Volumes of De Re Rustica Was the Leading Wine Agriculture Book
  • ~Jose Ignacio Domecq~ “Jerez”, Winemaker/ Pedro Domecq Wineries
  • ~Denis Dubourdieu~ “Bordeaux”,  Winemaker/ Professor  at University of Bordeaux
  • ~Gang of Four~ “Beaujolais”, Marcel Lapuerre, Guy Breton, Jean Paul Thevenet, Jean Follard, and 5th. Member Yvon Metras…Lead Movement Back to Natural Wines
  • ~Angelo Gaja~ “Piemonte”, Helped Revolutionize Vinification of Nebbiolo
  • ~Giovanni Gaja~ “Piemonte”, One of the Founding Fathers of Barbaresco
  • ~Marco de Grazia~ “Piemonte”/ “America”,  Wine Importer/ Marketer/ Manager of Barolo Boys In Langhe and USA.
  • ~Etienne Guigal & Marcel Guigal~ “Rhone”, Founder & Owner of Estate
  • ~Serge Hochar~ “Lebanon”, Owner/ Winemaker of Chateau Musar
  • ~Pope John XXII~ “Rhone”, Promotion of Viticulture the Southern Rhone
  • ~Nicolas Joly~ Bio-Dynamic Farming Champion.
  • ~Hugh Johnson~ “England”, OBE., Wine-Writer/ Author/ Expert
  • ~Louis Gambert de Loche~ “France”, Founder French Appellation System
  • ~Ernst Lossen~ “German”, Winemaker, Owner of Weingut Dr. Loosen In Mosel
  • ~Alexandre de Gascq-Leoville~ “Medoc”, Helped Marketed St. Julien On Grand Scale
  • ~Barolo Mascarello~ “Barolo”, Producer and Iconic Symbol of the Traditionalist
  • ~Walter Masso~ “Toronesi”, Helped Save Timarasso Grape From Extinction
  • ~Laura & Corinne Mentzelopoulos~ “Medoc”, Own and Run Chateau Margaux
  • ~Giuseppe Musso~ “Barbaresco”, Father of Barbaresco and Helped Shape Industry
  • ~Monks~ “Burgundy”, Keeping and Progressing Wine Culture Alive, During Dark Times.
  • ~Herman Muller~ “Swiss”, Botanist, Plant Physiologist, Oenologist and Grape Breeder
  • ~Alvaro Palacios~ “Spanish”, Wine-Grower, Who Helped Revitalized Priorat
  • ~Louis Pasteur~ “France”, First to Define the Biological Process of Fermentation
  • ~Dom Perignon~“Champagne”, 1670’s, Cellar Master In Hatvillers- Get Credit For; Blending Villages, Grapes & Years, Producing Blanc de Noir, Use of Cork as Stoppers
  • ~Jean-Pierre Perrin~“Rhone”, Winemaker/ Owner of Perrin & Tablas Creek
  • ~Prof Emile Peynaud~ “Bordeaux’, “Forefather of Modern Oenology”, Helped Morderize Bordeaux and Improved Wine Making World Wide.
  • ~Renato Ratti~ “Barolo”, 1970, Helped Revolutionized Modern Movement With Nebbiolo, One of First to Make Map Ranking Crus
  • ~Josep Raventos~ “Catalunya”, 1872, Produced First Cava In Penenes
  • ~Paul-Emile Remy~ “Cognac”,  Modernized/ Sold Cognacs Under His Family Name
  • ~Jancis Robinson~ “England”, MS., OBE., Journalist, Wine-Critic/ Writer, Website
  • ~Jean-Claude Rouzaud~ “Champagne”, President of Champagne Louis Roederer
  • ~Sir Guy Salisbury-Jones~ “England”, One of First to Plant Grapes In England
  • ~Clemente Santi~ “Tuscany”, 1869, Selected a Biotype of Sangiovese, Invented Mondern Brunello 1869, Won Gold Medal at Montepulciano Agricultural Fair
  • ~Ferruccio Biondi Santi~ “Tuscany”, Grandson of Clemente Santi, Modernized Brunello
  • ~Oliver di Serres~ “France”, 1600’s,Author and Soil Scientist Wrote Theatre d’Agriculture, the Leading Wine Agriculture Book
  • ~Giuseppe Sesti~ “Tuscany”, Owner/ Winemaker, Castello di Argiano
  • ~Rudolph Steiner~ “Austria”, 1924, Founder of Bio-Dynamics. His Books “An Esoteric Cosmology, and What is Bio-Dynamics” Become “Bibles” For Mindful Agriculture.
  • ~Paul Symington~ “Portugal”, Port Ambassador and President of Symington Family Estate, the Worlds Largest Port Group.
  • ~Miguel Torres~ “Catalunya”, Founder of Torres Winery In Penedes and Chile
  • ~Maria Thun~ Founder of Bio-Dynamic Calendar
  • ~Aubert Villaine~ “Burgundy”, Co-Owner/ Custodian of Domaine de la Romanee-Conti

Pioneers of the New World

  • ~Cyrus Alexander~ “Sonoma”, 1841, Planted First Vines In Alexander Valley
  • ~Jesse Applegate~ “Oregon”, 1870, First to Planted Vines In Umpqua Valley
  • ~Bryan Babcock~ “Santa Rita Hills”, The ‘Prince of Pinot Noir’, On of First to Plant Vines
  • ~Christophe Baron~ “Oregon“, First to Plant Vines In the Rocks District AVA.
  • ~George Bloch~ “Dry Creek”, 1868, French Immigrant Who Was One of  First Plant Vines
  • ~Fred Brander– “Santa Ynez”, One of Earliest People to Plant Vines
  • ~Bartholomew Broughton~ “Tasmania”, 1823, Planted First Vines In Tasmania
  • ~David Bruce~ “Santa Cruz”, Influencer In Santa Cruz Mountain AVA Industry Revival
  • ~Gundlach Bundschu~ “Sonoma”, Founder of Historical Sonoma Valley Winery
  • ~James Busby~ “Hunter Valley”, Godfather of Australia Viticulture
  • ~John- Caldwell~ “Coombsville”, One of Coombville Original- Vine Propagator/ Smuggler
  • ~Nicolas Catana~ “Medoza”, Credited For Putting Argentina On the Worlds Wine Map
  • ~Joseph Chiles~ “Chiles Valley”, 1841, Awarded Original Land Grant, Planted First Vines
  • ~Jim Clendenen~ “Santa Maria”, Founder of Au Bon Climat Winery
  • ~Brian Croser~ “Austrialia”, Dedicated to Improving Australia Wine
  • ~Paul Draper~ “Santa Cruz”, Winemaker at Ridge Winery
  • ~Randy Dunn~ “Napa”, One of Howell Mountain Original Grape Grower
  • ~Gary Eberle~ “Paso Robles”, Original Planted Syrah, Lead Petition For Paso Robles AVA
  • ~Salvatore Emmolo~ “Napa”, Major Rootstock Business In Napa Valley After Prohibition
  • ~Len Evans~ “Australia”, Winemaker, Promoter, Judge, Teacher
  • ~Founding Families~ “Hunter Valley”, Draytons, McGuigans, Tyrrells, Wyndhams
  • ~Agoston Haraszthy~ Hungarian Immigrant Helped Create Commercial Wine Industry In California. Brought 100,000 Cuttings From France, Italy, Spain and Germany.
  • ~Nathan Fay~ “Napa”, First to Plant Vine In Stags Leap District AVA.
  • ~Jerry Fox~ “Washington”, First to Plant Vines In Wahluke Slope
  • ~German Immigrants~ “Texas”, 1800’s, First to Cultivate Vines In Fredericksburg
  • ~Dick Graff~ “Chalone/ Oregon”, 1960’s, Revitalized Chalone AVA.
  • ~S.B. Hallengren~ “Dry Creek”, 1868, Swedish Immigrant Who Planted First Vines
  • ~Joe Heitz~ “Napa”, 1966, Planted Martha’a Vineyard In Rutherford
  • ~Duggie/ Lowell Jooste~ “South Africa”, Redeveloped the Wine Estate Klein Constantia
  • ~Charles Krug~ “Napa”, 1861, Open First Commercial Winery In Napa
  • ~George de Latour~ “Napa”, Started Beaulieu Vineyards and Influential In Napa Culture
  • ~Bob Lindquist~ “Central Coast”, Original Rhone Ranger and Started Qupe Winery
  • ~Robert Livermore~ “Livermore”, 1839, Purchased Most of Livermore Valley
  • ~Jerry Lohr~ “Paso Robles”, 1980, Recognized the Potential For Bordeaux Varietals
  • ~Rick Longoria~ “Santa Barbara”, Helped Santa Barbara County Wines Commercially
  • ~Clinton “Doc” McPherson~ First to Plant Vineyards In High Plains
  • ~Gustave Niebaum~ “Napa”, Late 1800’s, Finnish Fur Trader One of the Early Pioneers of Napa and Who Built Inglenook Estate
  • ~Giovanni Pedroncelli~ “Dry Creek”, Helped Modernize Industry Post Prohibition
  • ~Abraham Perold~ “South Africa”, 1925, Produce Pinotage, X=Cinsault & Pinot Noir
  • ~Charles Pritchard~ “Napa”, 1890, Planted First Vines On Pritchard Mountain
  • ~J. Rochioli~ “Sonoma”, One of the First Pinot Noir Pioneers of the Russian River
  • ~Rhone Rangers~ “Central Coast”, Champions Rhone Varietal On Central Coast
    • Randall Graham, Joseph Phelps, Ken Brown, John Macready, Bill Crawford, Fred Cline, Bob Lindquist, John Cushman
  • ~Jacob Schram~“Napa”, 1868″ Planted First Vines On Diamond Mountain.
  • ~Max Schubert~ “Australia”, Winemaker and Creator of Grange Hermitage
  • ~William Selyem~ “Sonoma”, One of the First Pinot Noir Pioneers of the Russian River
  • ~Richard Sanford~ “Santa Barbara”, First to Plant Pinot Noir In Santa Rita Hills
  • ~Ben Snipes~ “Washington”, Cattle Farmer Who First Settled In Snipes Mountain Area
  • ~Richard Sommer~ “Oregon”, 1961, Planted First Vineyards In Near Roseburg
  • ~Charles Tam~ “Chalone”, 1919, Planted First Grapes In Chalone
  • ~Andre Tchelistcheff~ “Napa”, Led Beaulieu Vineyards In Post Prohibition Era, Inspired, Educated New Area of Winemaking Based On Hygiene and Quality Control
  • ~Ken Thompson~ “Oregon”, First to Planted Vineyard In Elkton
  • ~Theophile Vache~ “San Benito”, 1850’s,  French Immigrant Planted Vines In San Benito
  • ~Simon Van Der Stel~ “South Africa”, Named His Grant of Land Constantia
  • ~Carl H. Wente~ “Livermore”, Credited For Championing Chardonnay In California, First American Winery to Release Varietally Labeled Chardonnay
  • ~Harry Wetzel~ “Sonoma”, First to Plant Chardonnay the Sonoma Valley
  • ~Jose Alberta Zuccardi~ “Mendoza”, Leader of Modern Wine Movement In Argentina

Pioneers ‘Others’

  • ~Derek Bacciocco~ “California”, Leading the Way In Varietal Identification and Education
  • ~Pierre Galet~ 1900’s/ French, Ampelographer and Author.
  • ~Paul Truel~ 1900’s/ French, Institut National Agronomique/ Montpelier
  • ~Dr. Jose Vouillamor~ Author/ Authority On Origin and Parentage of Grape Varieties Through DNA. Profiling
  • ~Michel Rolland~ French/ Oenologist & Flying Wine Maker.

Pioneers of the Non-Wine World

  • ~A.P. de Cambolle~ First Person to Scientifically Study Viticulture Climates
  • ~Wladimir Koppen~ German Climatologist Responsible For Koppen’s Climate Classification
  • ~Reginald Newell/ Yong Zhu~ Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Who Coined the Term “Atmospheric River” In 1990

**Refer to “BIBLIOGRAPHY/ SOURCES” For Details On Scholarly Works Referenced