Dawn E.

8.9

Smooth, easy drinking, cherry liquor, cedar, pencil lead, graham cracker, black licorice, and eucalyptus. Sixty minute decant, definitely appreciate this wine with a slight chill! — 3 years ago

Connor Smith

9.3

The first European grapes were planted in what is now the U.S. in the 1600s, where Spanish missionaries in New Mexico needed sacramental wine. But Phylloxera was ever-present near the eastern population centers, so the earliest American wine industries were built on hybrid grapes. Cincinnati's sparkling Catawba was America's first cult wine, followed by cultivars like Norton, Isabella, and Concord in Missouri and Virginia. The sleeping giant began to awaken in the 1850s, when Agoston Haraszthy began importing high-quality vine material to California.

It all came crashing down with Prohibition in 1920. Not only were vineyards ripped up and knowledge lost, but the American palate became soft and sweet. Low-quality fortified wine from whatever grapes were available became the standard of the American wine industry.

Things began to shift in the 1960s. Robert Mondavi brought dry table wine, varietally labeled, back to the forefront. Boutique producers like Ridge began to creep toward European quality standards. The 1976 Judgement of Paris blind tasting, a sweeping victory for the Americans, proved that the New World wine was here to stay.

(This is adapted from notes for Le Dû's Wines 'History of Wine 1453AD-Present' seminar, where this wine was poured) — 7 years ago

Ashlyn Saunders

9.1

Foodland, sale $11.??
Purple bear label, terrible😛! — 9 years ago

Vinny Eng

9.4

Gratitude for @matthiassonwine & Agoston Haraszthy! Furmint & Harslevalu from Sonoma. #CArising — 11 years ago

with Wolfgang

Nella T

9.5

Family claims to be the first to plant grapes in California. Bear comes from the California flag. They only do Zinfandel. — 12 years ago

Mike Miller

9.6

Absolutely superb old world pinot noir. Would love to taste and compare to a French and Washington State. — 4 years ago

with Anne

Cristina Hurst

9.0

Had with steak. A good light wine for summer — 8 years ago

Neal Ferry

9.3

Ravishing simply Ravishing — 8 years ago

with TwiLea

Chris Rush

9.1

A very perplexing and challenging white from the homeland of Haraszthy. Protestant in its austerity and basalt influence , yet rich and textured at 14% alc. Rocks and honey. — 10 years ago

with Kathryn

Clayton Bahr

9.4

Spicy, dried raspberry, dried strawberry, tobacco, peppery on palate — 11 years ago

Jane Alexander

8.9

Purchased 11/12 $20 sale $14 (S) — 14 years ago

Jalyn Warren

9.0

Refreshing! Love the label! — 5 years ago

Natalie Harper

9.5

Hungarian dry white wine. Super fruity and smooth — 5 years ago

Kevin Blix

9.0

Nice wine for $20. - 2006 — 8 years ago

Fabien Lombardi

8.9

Great blend. 65% Malbec, 25% Cab, 10% Merlot. — 9 years ago

Roy Goble

9.0

Nice and crisp — 11 years ago

with Renee and D'Aun

Julia Hu

9.5

Buena vista 1995 late harvest Johannisberg Riesling, haraszthy collection — 11 years ago