by Fred McMillin for April 21, 1997 Drink the Gold Disaster! The Bargetto brothers, Philip and John, had left the mountainous winegrowing region of Piedmont, Italy and were setting up shop in the mountainous winegrowing region of Santa Cruz. Then Prohibition was declared, and all bets were off. However,they hung in there and founded their winery when the skies cleared in the 1930's. Today, the Bargetto family still operates the winery. Their Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon draw the most attention...but they have another winner, a BIG winner. It's won nine successive Gold Medals. The 1992 beat all the competition for most awards for that varietal, which is Gewurztraminer. They produce both a dry and an off-dry (has a tad of sugar). My tasters gave a slight edge to the dry. 1996 Dry Gewurztraminer, Santa Cruz Mountains, CA Bargetto Winery Sequel, CA Contact—Phone (408)475-2258, ask for Martin Bargetto $12 Category: Recommended Postscript: As to those Bargetto beginnings, Philip and John were really READY to make wine, once it again became legal. They founded their winery on Dec. 5, 1933, the very day that Prohibition was repealed! About the Writer Fred McMillin, a veteran wine writer, has taught wine history for 30 years on three continents. He currently teaches wine courses at San Francisco State and San Francisco City College and is Northern California Editor for American Wine on the Web. In 1995, the Academy of Wine Communications honored Fred with one of only 22 Certificates of Commendation awarded to American wine writers.

Welcome to WineDay, the electronic Gourmet Guide's daily update. Monday through Thursday, WineDay presents a wine profile. Then on Fridays we present the Winery of the Week to take you through the weekend Current WineDay January WineDays February WineDays March WineDays 04/18/97 Winery of the Week Raymond Vineyard and Cellar 04/17/97 A Chardonnay That Came to Play 04/16/97 The Longest Name in the Valley 04/15/97 Raising Syrah to New Heights 04/14/97 Learn to say Vee-oh-nyay, For come what may It's here to stay 04/11/97 Winery of the Week Mirassou Vineyards and Winery 04/10/97 When Cape Mentelle Rang the Bell 04/09/97 Where to Grow Merlot 04/08/97 What's Hot, What's Not 04/07/97 An All-Pro Pinot 04/04/97 Winery of the Week How the Pope Coped 04/03/97 The Larsen Legend 04/02/97 The Blush Gold Rush 04/01/97 It's the Grapes, Stupid

Global Gourmet | FoodDay Copyright © 1997—the electronic Gourmet Guide, Inc. All rights reserved.