The 2015 Blanc de Blancs from Frank Family Vineyards is a delightfully delicious sparkling wine. Made in the style of the Champagne method, it has everything a good sparkling wine needs: festive bubbles, lots of flavor and great finesse and quality.

One always needs a bottle of bubbles on hand for special celebrations, and this 2015 Carneros Blanc de Blancs ($55) fits the bill. What would life be without a glass of sparkling wine?
Frank Family Vineyards has a beautiful tasting room in the winery’s original yellow artisan house. It has been voted “Best Napa Winery” by the Bay Area A-List eight years in a row.
On your next trip to Napa, don’t miss this one. Their motto is “Great Wine Happens Every Day”, and I wholeheartedly agree.
Frank Family Vineyards, 1091 Larkmead Lane, Calistoga. 707-942-0859.

Brewed coffee

Steeped Coffee, a Santa Cruz-based coffee bag maker, is teaming up with Emmy Award-winning chef Nick Stellino to launch its Nick Stellino Fair Trade Certified Italian Coffee, an organic medium/dark roast blend.
“This coffee is taken sip by sip and savored with a smile on your face,” says Stellino. Steeped Coffee’s handy little bags of great tasting coffee are perfect for travel, camping trips and more. I use these at home when I want a quick, hearty brew. All you need is a cup and hot water to pour over the bag. Here is! You have an excellent cup of fresh coffee! steepedcoffee.com.

La Selva Beach Spice Company

We have a spice company right on our doorstep, La Selva Beach Spice Company. I recently purchased a large bag of turmeric powder and noticed it was locally packaged. The company also packages pure ancient Himalayan sea salt, ginger powder, chili flakes, peppercorns and other types of seasonings. This family business claims to use “all natural ingredients, no gross stuff”. Good to know, and spicy news, indeed!
La Selva Beach Spice Company, 453 McQuaide Drive, Watsonville. 831-724-4500; laselvabeachspice.com.

Paid for promotion

La Mamma certainly deserves a little sparkle in her life, and this award-winning bubbly is the closest thing to boarding her in Italy.

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FIOL is available in two refreshing and sparkling varieties: FIOL Extra Dry (£18.95), a light golden expression with notes of wisteria blossom, acacia and tart ripe wild apple, and FIOL Rosé Extra Dry (22. £95), an elegant expression with notes of raspberry and wild strawberry on the nose and citrus of lemon and white flowers on the palate.

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Get more information about Fiol Prosecco DOC on their website or follow them on Instagram @fiolprosecco

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Terms and conditions:

• Valid until 11:59 p.m. on March 27, 2022
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Are you a Girl Scout Cookie lover and a wine lover? Well, that might be helpful.

Recently on social media, a meme made the rounds showing perfect wine pairings with specific Girl Scout cookies:

genius.

But what if you want to keep it local? Fortunately, Michigan has a number of wines made right here in the state. Following the above guide posted by Wine Enthusiast, below is a list of Michigan wines to pair with your Girl Scout Cookies. And where to buy them:

1. Fine mints + Zinfandel

Easily a favorite in the Girl Scouts collection, Thin Mints must be the perfect match. The Wine Enthusiast recommends a Zinfandel. Unfortunately, at least with a quick Google search, Michigan-made Zinfandels aren’t easy to find. A substitution of Cabernet Sauvignon should do the trick. The Roche Collection is locally made in Southwest Michigan and can be found online at therochecollection.com or at Meijer Michigan stores.

2. Tagalongs + Porto Tawny

A Port Tawny, if you’ve never eaten it, is described as having notes of caramel, crunchy peanut and apricot. If you can’t find Tawny Port made in Michigan, try St. Julian’s Reserve LH Reisling instead with flavors like tangerine and apricot as well as citrus aromas. You’ll need to order online or find a location closest to you here.

3. Clovers + off-dry Riesling

Paired with the classic shortbread biscuit, Trefoils, try an off-dry Riesling. The acidity of the wine must go very well with the flavor of the shortbread. But, you don’t want the sweetness to dominate the cookie. Then try the semi-dry Reisling from the Château Grand Traverse winery. You can buy online or find the semi-dry Reisling at your local Meijer.

4. Samoas + Sauternes

A French dessert wine, Sauternes often has flavors like honeysuckle, mango, butterscotch, and more. This would all go great with the caramel/coconut flavor of Samoa. Made in Michigan, try Leelanau Winery’s White Port. It should be a delicious pairing. It offers rich flavors of honey, caramel and hazelnut. Although you can find Leelanau wines in Meijer stores, you can also order directly from the winery here.

5. Do-Si-Dos + Prosecco

If you’re struggling to find a Michigan-made prosecco, champagne will always make a good substitute. Locally, Good Harbor Vineyards produces a sparkling wine called Blanc De Blanc with hints of apple and lemon zest which, along with the oatmeal peanut butter cookie, should be a delicious experience. Find Blanc De Blanc and all other Good Harbor wines here.

Now, like everything else, people have different opinions about wines. If you don’t like the recommendations, winemag.com reviews all of their recommendations for Girl Scout wine pairings here.

Or watch this quick video:

And, if you’re trying to find Girl Scout cookies locally, they have a locator on their website. Check it here.

Festive bottles of English sparkling wine have been made from fruit from Sussex vineyards to commemorate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

The special edition bottles of wine have been released by the Royal Collection Trust (a department of the Royal Household) and are made from a blend of hand-picked fruit from vineyards in Sussex and Kent.

The trust said the vintage sparkling wine is a classic blend of chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier.

Read more: Prince Harry described as ‘just lovely’ by US star after Super Bowl reunion

The wine is golden in color and has been described as having seductive aromas of rich, honeyed citrus, white peach and hints of sweet spice.

The drink will pair well with mature English cheddar as well as seafood such as crab, langoustines and classic fish and chips.

vineyards in Sussex and Kent” content=”https://i2-prod.sussexlive.co.uk/incoming/article6662390.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/1_ESW-Champagne-Flutes-2.jpg”/>

It displays a label inspired by gold embroidery on Her Majesty’s Estate Robe worn at her Coronation in 1953.

A 700ml bottle of Platinum Jubliee wine will set you back £39.

Additional hand-cut champagne flutes will cost £120 for a pair.

For more stories of where you live, visit In your region.

© Wine Australia
| After authorizing non-regional varieties, Bordeaux could then plant hybrid vines.

There’s just no stopping the drama in Bordeaux, is there?

Not content with increasing the hackles by allowing warmer climate varietals in the appellation, there is now talk of allowing hybrids in the blend. How awful for purists, but it’s a very real possibility.

Elsewhere, there’s sparkling wine news in Piedmont, trouble for small Chianti producers and a long-running case in a French wine court dragging on even longer. Continue reading…

Burgundy grape eyes hybrid

Following the Bordeaux region’s high-profile acceptance of six out-of-region varietals (the warm-climate hardy reds: Arinarnoa, Castets, Marselan and Touriga Nacional; and the whites: Alvarinho and Liliorila) recently, reports from the region indicate that locals are now ready to adopt disease-resistant hybrid varieties as well.

This eventual decision – which should be voted on early next month – falls as the European Union prepares to reset its common agricultural policy (the CAP). According to French wine news site Vitisphere, the new CAP – which is due to come into force next year – will allow hybrid grape varieties for wine production in member states.

Although France has a complex relationship with hybrids (it banned the production of wine from hybrid varieties in the 1950s for false health concerns despite many successful hybrids originating in the country), their resistance to disease is cited as a major factor in their revival.

“It must be said that after the trying 2021 vintage (with strong mildew pressure), the prospect of only treating [against cryptogamic attacks] two to three times a year can only be appealing,” said industry commentator Alexandre Abellan.

There is no news yet on which potential varieties the region will adopt, but it is likely that they will fall under legislation allowing experimental hybrid varieties to be planted on more than 5% of vineyard land. These “experimental” plantations cannot represent more than 10% of any resulting wine.

A meeting of Bordeaux’s so-called Management and Defense Organization (ODG) – which could change current viticulture and winemaking legislation in favor of hybrid varieties – is scheduled for March 4.

Ceretto launches a new sparkling wine project

Roberta Ceretto, one of four Ceretto siblings behind the well-regarded eponymous Barolo estate, has launched a new sparkling wine project in Piedmont’s Alta Langa with her husband, interior designer Giuseppe Blengini . Called Monsignore (from the Cascina Monsignore estate in Vicoforte, which also produces Dolcetto-based Dogliani), the first releases cover the 2017 and 2018 vintages.

According to Italian wine news site WineNews.it, current production is around 8,000 bottles with the goal of increasing to 50,000 bottles per vintage. Alta Langa Metodo Classico wines are produced from a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Ceretto said she and her husband had been considering an heirloom project “for years” and the two opted for wine. The project is private and does not involve the Ceretto brand itself.

“In 2014 we started trying different clones of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir,” she said, “and in 2017 we had our first harvest. My family includes Nebbiolo for Barolo and Barbaresco, but to do quality in Alta Langa we asked the locals for advice. winemaker Giuseppe Caviola.”

More land is being purchased for the project, which is expected to grow from its 10 hectares (25 acres) of vineyard land – more than a quarter of which is devoted to Alta Langha production.

Languedoc court decision remains on the fence

The Narbonne High Court ruled that the Languedoc wine merchants‘ union (the CIVL) was justified in having its representatives of direct marketing removed from the regional council of wine merchants. It’s a complex affair, perhaps best summed up in previous roundups in September (point four) and December (point two) last year.

According to wine news site vitisphere.com, the local court effectively sat on the fence. He said the CIVL was justified in its approach while acknowledging that direct marketing organizations (often – but not entirely – large companies in the region with a significant national and/or international advertising budget) have an important and unique role. within the CIVL.

Unusually, the decision appears to have appeased both parties, although few comments have been issued by the CIVL.

“It’s a big step forward,” Alexandre They, head of the regional direct marketing group, told vitisphere.com. “The court recognizes our legitimacy. This reinforces our thinking: we have our place within the professional body.”

French wine exports to the United States rebound

Exports of French wines to the United States rebounded 50% in 2021, surpassing 2019 figures, according to the country’s foreign trade ministry. French wine journal La Revue du Vin de France said the rebound followed lower tariffs imposed by the Trump administration and a general increase in sales following the earlier impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to the ministry, exports jumped 19% in value and 33% in volume in 2021.

“The [wine] sector is taking a breather after two years of pandemic and the suspension in March 2021 of the 25% surcharge on certain European wines imposed in October 2019 by the Trump administration,” the RVF said. The tariffs, she said, were part of a long-running dispute between the United States and Europe over state aid to the aviation sector.

Chianti boss sounds the alarm

Unlike France, however, the head of the Chianti Wine Consortium, Marco Alessandro Bani, issued a different note, despite reports that exports of regional Chianti wines also increased by 17% in 2021 (compared to 2019). Bani told regional newspaper Siena Free that despite the general good news, small wineries were still “in big trouble”.

“In the wine sector there are very different situations,” he said. “Some companies are in difficulty because they are not credited by banks. In terms of growth, we must highlight a greater need for financing necessary to pay for the increase in inventories. This growth rests entirely on the shoulders of companies and is not supported by the banking system.

“The world of wine is very big,” he added, “and it doesn’t just contain big companies. There are also small ones that need help.”

Wine truck overturns in western France

“The smell of wine still hangs over the trailer of the damaged truck,” began the report by regional media Ouest France after a truck driver lost control of his vehicle on Tuesday evening. The truck hit a low wall and overturned on a departmental road in Vendée, western France, injuring the driver and losing its cargo of around 600 liters of bottled wine.

Emergency services reportedly remained in the area for around six hours to contain the wine which had spilled into a roadside ditch. A specialist clean-up crew was called in to remove the wine from the waterway.

No news on exactly how the truck driver came through a roadside wall and overturned the truck.

Frank Family Chardonnay California 2019
Calistoga, CA $29.99

Brilliant straw color, with light aromas of lemon zest and brioche. The crunchy taste starts with apple, pear, melon and white peaches, for a classic, juicy, medium-bodied style. Beautifully balanced, with well-integrated acidity and a clean, long finish. Enjoy over the next two to three years with fresh fish, chicken or pork.

Domaine René Malleron Sancerre
Loire Valley, France $27.95

Pale green color, with pungent aromas of gooseberry and grass. The palate starts with invigorating acidity, then notes of citrus and passion fruit underline the gunflint minerality. Sancerre is the quintessence of the Sauvignon Blanc grape and is best shared with shellfish, oysters and lightly seasoned fish dishes.

Schramsberg Blanc de Blanc N/V
St. Helena, CA $34.99

In 1965, this sparkling wine was the first chardonnay produced commercially in the United States. Small batches of barrel fermented wines are added to stainless steel fermented wines to create a proprietary blend for a dry and crisp taste profile. Fruity and lively with a bold finish, accompany fresh oysters, shellfish and other seafood.

BV Tapestry Reserve Rouge Blend 2016
Rutherford, CA $39.99

A true Bordeaux blend, mainly Cabernet and Merlot, with some Cab Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. The result is a complex wine with intense aromas of violets and sage, layers of blackberry, cassis and dark cherry flavors, while bold tannins impart a rich mouthfeel on the finish. Perfect for grilled or roast beef dishes. Rated 93 points by James Suckling, an American wine critic.

Silvio Grasso Barolo 2017
Piedmont, Italy $37.99

The Grasso family is known for their red wines, and this Barolo is made from 100% Nebbiolo grapes. The 2017 vintage offers a nose of tar and rose, with a dense palate of ripe cherry and plum. Concentrated fruit blends with fine tannins for a lingering finish. A wine worthy of any fine Italian cuisine. Rated 92 points by Wine Advocate.

Nicholas Molnar, a winemaker whose innovative thinking helped make Carneros a premier wine region, died on January 11. He was 94 years old.

“My father had a real entrepreneurial spirit,” said Arpad Molnar. “I think my dad’s life experience shaped his flexibility of mind, and he had that flexibility of mind until he passed away.”

Molnar was unswayed by naysayers who said Carneros, at the southern end of the Sonoma and Napa Valleys, was too cold and windy to prepare grapes for good wine. The native Hungarian, who fled the country after the 1956 revolution failed to overthrow the Stalinist regime, eventually made his way to Northern California and became an unconventional winemaker in the 1960s.

He tried his luck on a 100-acre piece of land in 1973 not far from the marshes of San Pablo Bay. This vineyard became an instrument of the Molnar family’s main business, Obsidian Wine Co., 12 years before the Carneros wine region was officially recognized as an American wine zone.

“You have to throw caution to the wind that others are unwilling to do,” Arpad Molnar said.

Molnar also ignored those who said Lake County was unsuitable for growing premium Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as those who scoffed at the prospect of California wineries buying Hungarian barrels.

The unorthodox thinker was born in Budapest in 1927 during uncertain times of economic depression, world war and Soviet occupation. In the 1940s, Molnar’s father ran a trucking business and, maligned as capitalists, both father and son spent time in prison.

Molnar was married to gymnast Andrea Bodo. While competing in the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, Molnar took part in a revolt in Budapest. When it was clear that the revolution would not triumph, Molnar fled across the Austrian border and was eventually reunited in Melbourne with his wife, who had won a gold medal.

At the time, magazine mogul Henry Luce launched Sports Illustrated and invited the Hungarian Olympic team to tour the United States. As the Cold War intensified, Luce sought to shed light on refugees from a communist regime, Arpad Molnar said.

“It was definitely trade-driven,” he said. “The political overtones of the time caused a stir.”

Molnar, who had experience as a journalist, took the opportunity to cover the story for the magazine.

After visiting San Francisco in 1956, Molnar and Bodo were charmed by the city and decided to stay there. But they eventually divorced, and Molnar remarried Catherine de Bokay, another Hungarian refugee, in 1966.

When Molnar started selling insurance, he crossed paths with the Pepi Brothers of Robert Pepi Winery, now known as Cardinale and owned by Jackson Family Wines. With the Pepi brothers as a new client, Molnar had the idea of ​​planting a vineyard. Short of capital, he found investors by placing advertisements in newspapers, Arpad Molnar explained.

The 100-acre Carneros property he purchased in 1973 had been used for sheep grazing. There were only a few vineyards in the area at the time. Once he converted it into pinot noir and chardonnay vineyards, Molnar found a ready buyer for his harvest. French champagne company Moët Hennessy built Domaine Chandon and bought its grapes until 1985 to produce its sparkling wine.

Today, some of the fruit is used for the Molnar family’s Poseidon label, while the lion’s share is sold to Napa Valley sparkling wine houses, Mumm Napa and Schramsburg.

“There was certainly a lot of doubt, even fear, around the idea of ​​planting directly on the shores of San Pablo Bay,” said Domaine Carneros winemaker TJ Evans. “This may have been perpetuated by farmers further up the valley who were worried about the humidity and wind. … I think we can all admire (Molnar’s) type of leadership and his willingness to go out and take risks.

Anne Moller-Racke, owner and winemaker of Carneros’ Blue Farm, agreed. Molnar, she said, was one of a small group of people who knew about the potential of Carneros soil for growing concentrated, flavorful grapes.

“Nicholas knew that clay soils are restrictive, resulting in smaller vines, which leads to lower yields,” she said. “He was a precursor. He was not afraid of risk. He was a refugee, and it takes a certain spirit to leave a country. He had the courage to try something new.

Moller-Racke remembers meeting Molnar at a social event in Mumm Napa years ago. He was a very charming gentleman, she said. “He was from the Old Country, and very interesting.”

Molnar was also ahead of the curve with the import of Hungarian-made barrels from Kadar, a company that fell on hard times during the Soviet occupation. California winemakers said it was futile, Arpad Molnar said, because winemakers were determined to use French oak barrels. But Gallo stepped forward and bought the Kadar casks, and today 120 wineries around the world buy the Kadar casks from the Molnars. The family eventually took a stake in the cooperage.

“My dad was always a bit of an outsider in the wine industry, but I don’t think so by choice,” Arpad Molnar said. “It’s just his way of seeing the world, and when you see the world differently, it doesn’t lend itself to being an insider.”

Insiders, who pedal in conventional wisdom, also didn’t believe Lake County held promise for high-end Cabernet Sauvignon. But, once again, Molnar saw an opportunity that others had missed.

In 1999 Molnar and his sons Peter and Arpad purchased a 100 acre walnut orchard and converted it into a vineyard. This vineyard, named Obsidian Ridge, continues to have a reputation for rivaling the Cabernet Sauvignons of Napa Valley.

“I don’t know if it was my father’s DNA or the circumstances in which he was born that made him an entrepreneur,” said Arpad Molnar. “Like everything, it’s part nature, part culture. He had to make do with what he had.

Nicholas Molnar is survived by his wife, Catherine; his children Aniko, Peter and Arpad; and grandchildren Renna, Kyla, Nichos, Gabriel, Eszter and Andreas.

Wine writer Peg Melnik can be reached at [email protected] or 707-521-5310.

DUNDEE, Oregon – January 26, 2022 – Argyle Winery is delighted to announce the launch of its second annual Ojo Brilloso collection, which features a trio of limited-production, single-vineyard Pinot Noirs from renowned Knudsen, Spirit Hill and Lone Star vineyards. Created to honor the knowledge, wisdom and skill of Argyle’s acclaimed winemaking team, each of the three wines was crafted in conjunction with the Vineyard Supervisor overseeing their respective vineyard. Building on the philosophy of the Ojo Brilloso program, which strives to recognize and empower vineyard workers, Argyle has partnered with three leading nonprofit organizations and will make a meaningful commitment to of time, resources and charitable contributions in the important mission of each organization. This includes Salvation ! A project of OHSU Health Hillsboro Medical Centeris on a mission to provide health care to workers in Oregon’s vineyards, AHIVOYthe mission to provide education and professional development to Latino and Hispanic wine workers in the Willamette Valley, and The Roots Fundis committed to investing in communities of color to provide opportunities in the wine industry through scholarship, wine education and job placement. The collection of three Ojo Brilloso bottles is available online at argylewinery.com for $150.

What is Ojo Brilloso? That was the question Argyle winemaker Geoff Hall found himself asking when he joined Argyle in 2017. As he began to learn about Argyle’s famous 400-acre vineyard program, he would often hear his team members say “ojo brilloso” (ō-hō bree -ō’-sō), which loosely translates to “beautiful observation”. Hall quickly realized that these “beautiful observations” reflected his team’s intimate knowledge of the vineyards and were the building blocks of Argyle’s success, which in turn inspired the Ojo Brilloso program.

The 2019 vintage of Ojo Brilloso highlights the talents of the three Argyle Vineyard Supervisors: Francisco Ponce, who oversees Spirit Hill Vineyard, Jose Sanchez, who guides Knudsen Vineyard, and Hector Cabrera, who oversees Lone Star Vineyard. Each Vineyard Supervisor has selected a small block or section of Pinot Noir from their vineyard that they have personally managed throughout the excellent 2019 growing season to create wine that embodies their connection to the site and the pride that he derives from his work. The wines were then produced in collaboration with renowned Argyle winemaker, Nate Klostermann.

“Vineyard workers are the backbone of our industry, yet their contributions are so often overlooked. Together with Ojo Brilloso, we are working to change that,” said winemaker Nate Klostermann.

Each of the three vineyard supervisors selected and managed their Ojo Brilloso blocks, applying personalized foliage, pruning and canopy management techniques to bring out the full potential of each site. Because of the quality of Ojo Brilloso’s wines, the Argyle vineyard team has already begun adopting select pruning and foliage methods applied by vineyard supervisors for use in other sections of vineyards around the Argyle area.

“This project makes me proud,” says Argyle Vineyard supervisor Francisco Ponce. “The company takes us into account and reminds us that we are the foundation of the company, the pillars.” For vineyard supervisor Jose Sanchez, Ojo Brilloso is a reflection of his relationship with the vineyards. “This wine reflects our love for plants. It’s a sign of how much we respect plants. It feels good to know that this wine is the fruit of our humble work.

To support Ojo Brilloso’s mission to empower vineyard workers and create a more equitable and inclusive wine industry, Argyle will make a cash donation equal to ¡Salvation ! A project of OHSU Health Hillsboro Medical Center, Asociación Hispana de la Industria del Vino en Oregon y Comunidad (AHIVOY), and the Roots Fund. The donation to ¡Salvation ! will support their mobile health clinic program, while AHIVOY’s donation will fund scholarships for vineyard workers. In addition to the cash donation, support from the Roots Fund will include two annual harvest internships for BIPOC members in the wine community.

“We are deeply grateful for the financial support and advocacy work of Argyle through the Ojo Brilloso Project,” said the AHIVOY team. “We appreciate and celebrate the recognition that the Ojo Brilloso Project gives to the important work that the vineyard stewards contribute to every bottle of wine.”

The Ojo Brilloso three-bottle collection features original label artwork created by Eduardo Soto, who was one of the Argyle’s 2020 The Art of Sparkling scholarship holders. Influenced by artwork from the Mexican mural movement, the three de Soto labels are part of a larger work depicting the vineyards of the Argyle Estate in winter, spring and during harvest. 800 collector’s boxes were produced in the 2019 vintage, and the wines are sold in a stunning three-bottle box, with cut-out glass windows showing the labels. To order the collection, go to www.ArgyleWinery.com.

About Argyle Winery

As Oregon’s original and most acclaimed sparkling wine house, Argyle Winery has been creating wines in the Willamette Valley since 1987. What began as a belief in cultivating world-class sparkling wine has grown to include an acclaimed portfolio of pinot noir, chardonnay and riesling. Argyle operates over 400 acres of vineyards in the Willamette Valley and welcomes guests daily to the Argyle Tasting House, located in the same space in downtown Dundee that they have called home from the start. To learn more, visit ArgyleWinery.com.

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“He was always an explorer,” said Arpad Molnar, his son.

Later in his career, working with his children, Molnar planted a vineyard in another location considered marginal,

Lake County

, and became one of the first to import Hungarian oak barrels into the United States. As with the Carneros Vineyard, these ventures were initially met with skepticism, but ultimately proved influential on the California wine industry.

Molnár Miklós was born in Budapest in 1927. He grew up in politically difficult times, as Hungary faced the Great Depression, then World War II, and then Soviet occupation. Molnar’s father was a business owner – he ran a trucking business – and in the late 1940s, like many who were vilified as capitalists, both father and son spent time in prison.

He married a gymnast, Andrea Bodo. While she was in Australia to participate in the 1956 Olympics, a revolt broke out in Budapest against the Soviet regime. Molnar participated, taking to the streets in October 1956. When it became clear that the Soviets would crush the revolution, Molnar fled, crossing the Austrian border alone. He found his way to Melbourne, where he was reunited with his wife, who had won a gold medal.

Molnar, Bodo and other members of the Hungarian Olympic gymnastics team decided against returning to Hungary, initially staying in Australia. A new opportunity soon presented itself: magazine magnate Henry Luce, who had just founded a new publication called Sports Illustrated, offered to host the Hungarian team on a tour of the United States. (The move, Arpad Molnar believes, was politically motivated, publicizing refugees from a communist regime at the height of the Cold War.) The arrangement proved particularly beneficial to Molnar, who had worked as a journalist in Hungary and had been assigned to cover the tour for Sports Illustrated.

Just before Christmas 1956, the tour landed in San Francisco. “Governor. Knight Hails Stateless Group,” reads the headline of The Chronicle on Dec. 25. Molnar and Bodo immediately drove to town and decided to stay.

In San Francisco, Molnar worked briefly as a journalist, then sold life insurance. He and Bodo divorced and in 1967 he married another Hungarian refugee, Catherine de Bokay. They settle in Piedmont.

Among his life insurance clients were the Pepi brothers, who had a winery in Napa. (Originally called Robert Pepi Winery, it’s now Cardinale, owned by Jackson Family Wines.) It was here that Molnar got the idea to plant a vineyard, according to his son. He placed advertisements in the newspapers to find investors.

Beginning in the 1960s, aided by numerous investors, Molnar purchased several undeveloped plots of land in Napa County and planted wine grapes there. Not all worked out, and in several cases he had to sell the properties to meet his obligations to investors.

But one patch, at the southern end of the county where the Napa River meets the bay, he managed to keep.

Before Molnar bought it in 1973, the 100-acre site was a pasture for sheep. Few other vineyards existed in Carneros at the time; it would be another 12 years before Carneros was officially recognized as an American Wine Country, the government designation for a wine region. Conventional wisdom held that it was not as well suited to wine grapes as the rest of Napa County.

Molnar proved otherwise. He planted Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, grape varieties that thrive in cooler climates. That same year, French champagne company Moet Hennessy arrived in Napa, intending to establish a winery – what would become Domaine Chandon – and was looking for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the grapes used in Champagne. Until 1985, Molnar sold the entire harvest from his vineyard in Chandon. Today, the fruit is sold to sparkling wine producers Schramsberg and Mumm, and also used for the Molnar family’s Poseidon label.

“He was always an underdog,” Arpad Molnar said. “The wine industry is so insular, and he kind of hovered around that scene, but never wanted to be in that scene. He always thought that when you’re a little bit outside of that, you can think creatively.

In the early 1990s, Molnar and his two sons, Arpad and Peter, became involved in efforts to revitalize the Hungarian economy after the fall of communist rule. Molnar’s first idea: wild rice. “He read an article about wild rice in the San Francisco Chronicle and how popular it is,” Arpad Molnar said. So he bought some, flew to Hungary and helped farmers plant it in their fields.

He had a similar idea about wine barrels after he found a cooperage in Hungary, called Kádár, which was having financial difficulties. Although it once produced wine barrels, during the Soviet occupation it was forced to make furniture for Russian markets. Kádár “was basically on life support,” Arpad Molnar said. They decided to help by buying his barrels and importing them to the United States

“The winemakers told us that no one here will ever buy a Hungarian barrel,” Arpad Molnar said. Then as now, the California wine industry is modeled after France, growing French grapes – like Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir – and aging them in French oak barrels, which many top wineries of range still regard as the gold standard. When the Molnars imported their first Hungarian casks, in 1993, their main selling point was that they were cheaper than their French counterparts. At first, their only client was Gallo.

But again, Molnar was ahead of the curve. The Molnars now sell Kádár barrels to 120 wineries in California and countries like Australia and New Zealand. The family eventually took a stake in the cooperage, adding an impressive partner – the famous French cooperage Taransaud.

Molnar’s last major frontier was in Lake County. In the late 1990s, land in Napa County was getting expensive and he suspected there was opportunity in areas just north of the county line, where the land was similar but the real estate market was strong. softer. Still with investors, he and his sons purchased a 100-acre walnut orchard in 1999. The ground was strewn with large boulders of shiny black obsidian. They called the vineyard Obsidian Ridge and quickly developed a strong reputation for producing Napa Valley caliber Cabernet Sauvignon.

“None of this hit us much later, but it was as obvious as planting in Carneros in the 1970s,” said Arpad Molnar of the Lake County project. “Everyone said you couldn’t grow a great Cabernet in Lake County.”

His father wanted to be remembered as a pioneer, said Arpad Molnar. “He had this relentless curiosity. He was always interested in what was new, not quite there yet. Sometimes it didn’t work. And sometimes it was.

Nicholas Molnar is survived by his wife, Catherine; his children Aniko, Peter and Arpad; and his grandchildren Renna, Kyla, Nichos, Gabriel, Eszter and Andreas.

ALLISON LEVINE