Andy Beckstoffer

Last updated
William Andrew "Andy" Beckstoffer [1]
Born
Education MBA, Tuck School of Business, 1966
Alma mater Virginia Tech, Dartmouth College
Occupation Vineyard owner
Years active1973-present
Spouse(s)Betty [2]

William Andrew "Andy" Beckstoffer is a California vineyard owner, with holdings in Napa, Lake County, and Mendocino. [3]

Contents

Biography

Beckstoffer was a resident of Richmond, Virginia, and went to Virginia Tech on a football scholarship. He graduated with an Engineering degree, and served in the United States Army. While in the Army, he learned about the California wine industry in San Francisco. Upon leaving the Army, he entered graduate school at Dartmouth, earning a Master of Business Administration in 1966, and went to work for a finance company, Hueblein Inc. He convinced the company to invest in the burgeoning wine industry. [2]

In 1973, he purchased Vinifera Development Corporation, the wing of Heublein that owned approximately 1,200 acres (490 ha) of land in Napa and Mendocino. [3] By 2010, he had expanded his company's holdings to 1,072 acres (434 ha) in Napa, 1,138 acres (461 ha) in Mendocino, and over 1,100 acres (450 ha) in Lake County. [4]

Influence on the California wine industry

Beckstoffer was involved in settling a labor dispute led by Cesar Chavez in the late 1960s and early 1970s. [1] [5] His vineyard management practices, including decisions regarding vine spacing and irrigation, have helped to modernize the California wine industry. [2] Additionally, he has been active in the definition of the Rutherford and Saint Helena AVAs. [6]

Related Research Articles

Lake County, California County in California, United States

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Napa County, California County in California, United States

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Napa Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in Napa County in California's Wine Country. Napa Valley is considered one of the premier wine regions in the world. Records of commercial wine production in the region date back to the nineteenth century, but premium wine production dates back only to the 1960s.

Oakville, California Census-designated place in California, United States

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Santa Maria Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) which straddles the boundary of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties in California's multi-county Central Coast AVA. It was established on August 5, 1981 by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) as California's second oldest AVA. A portion of the AVA crosses the Cuyama River into the southernmost corner of San Luis Obispo County. The east–west orientation of the 152.3 square miles with a wide, open valley and rolling hills means cool winds and fog flow in freely from the Pacific Ocean, settling most noticeably in lower-lying areas. The result is a Mediterranean climate that lengthens the growing season and contributes to the eventual sugar/acid balance in the grapes from Santa Maria Valley's 7,500 acres (3,000 ha) cultivated vineyards. On January 28, 2011, the AVA was granted an 29.4 square miles expansion to its southern boundary.

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Duckhorn Vineyards

Duckhorn Vineyards is a winery outside St. Helena, California, specializing in Merlot wines.

Mendocino County wine

The Mendocino County wine is an appellation that designates wine made from grapes grown mostly in Mendocino County, California. The region is part of the larger North Coast AVA and one of California's largest and most climatically diverse wine growing regions. Mendocino County is one of the northernmost commercial wine grape regions in the state with two distinct climate zones separated by the Mendocino Range. Ten American Viticultural Areas have been designated within Mendocino County. Mendocino is one of the leading wine growing regions for organically produced wine grapes. Nearly 25% of the acreage in Mendocino County is grown organically. In 2004, the residents of the county voted to become the first GMO-free county in the United States in an initiative that was supported by many of the county's largest wineries. The county's widespread focus on organic viticulture has inspired journalists to describe it as "California's organic wine Mecca".

Sonoma County wine

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North Coast AVA

The North Coast AVA is an American Viticultural Area in the state of California that encompasses grape-growing regions in six counties located north of San Francisco: Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, Sonoma, and Solano. This large appellation covers over 3,000,000 acres (12,000 km2) and includes a number of smaller sub-appellations that all share the common ecology trait of weather affected by the cool fog and breezes of the Pacific Ocean.

Oakville AVA

The Oakville AVA is an American Viticultural Area located within Napa Valley AVA and centered on the town of Oakville, California. The appellation extends over a flat expanse of well-drained gravel soil between the Vaca and Mayacamas Mountains. Oakville AVA is known for its success with Bordeaux varietals, which have produced wines of rich texture, firm tannins, and notes of mint and herbs.

Diamond Mountain District AVA

The Diamond Mountain District AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in California's Mayacamas Mountains in the northwest portion of the Napa Valley AVA. The appellation sits at a higher elevation than most of Napa Valley's wine region, resulting in less cool fog coming in from San Pablo Bay, and more direct exposure to sunlight. The soil of this AVA is volcanic and very porous which allows it to cool down quickly despite the increased sunlight.

Spring Mountain District AVA

The Spring Mountain District AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in the Napa Valley AVA in California. Spring Mountain District AVA was officially established as an American Viticulture Area in 1993. Encompassed within its bounds are about 8,600 acres (3,480 ha), of which about 1,000 acres (400 ha) are planted to vineyards. Given the small crop yields on hillsides, the region represents less than 2% of Napa Valley wine. Currently the region has just over 30 winegrowers.

California wine Wine made from grapes grown in California, United States

California wine production has a rich viticulture history since 1680 when Spanish Jesuit missionaries planted Vitis vinifera vines native to the Mediterranean region in their established missions to produce wine for religious services. In the 1770s, Spanish missionaries continued the practice under the direction of the Father Junípero Serra planted California's first vineyard at Mission San Juan Capistrano.

Sean Thackrey is an American winemaker based in Marin County, California in the town of Bolinas. From a background as director of an art gallery, Thackrey has been described as an unconventional winemaker who has done pioneering work in promoting California Syrah.

Nicole Abiouness is an American female entrepreneur and winemaker. She owns and operates Abiouness Wines, in Mendocino County, Napa Valley, California where she makes Pinot Noir and Sangiovese wine.

Oscar Renteria is an American viticulturalist and California winemaker who specializes in the Napa Valley. Along with his father Salvador, Renteria runs Renteria Vineyard Management Co. which manages 1,800 acres (730 ha) for 27 wineries and Renteria Winery where the family produces wines under their own label.

References

  1. 1 2 Hardy, Quentin (16 September 2002). "The Appellation Trail". Forbes. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 "Andy Beckstoffer Biography". Beckstoffer Vineyards. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
  3. 1 2 "Timeline". Beckstoffer Vineyards. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
  4. Goldfarb, Alan. "Feature Interview: Napa Valley grower Andy Beckstoffer". Appellation America. Archived from the original on 29 March 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
  5. "Andy Beckstoffer". Calwineries. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
  6. "The St. Helena Viticultural Area". Federal Register. 60 (175): 47053–47061. 11 September 1995. Retrieved 29 June 2011.[ permanent dead link ]