Duke of Bourbon: E-mail Specials

Some say the history of wine goes back some 10,000 years. Records in California don't go back quite that far, but it is long overdue that we start recognizing the rich history that wine has in California. The Duke, aka David Breitstein, and wife Judy, proprietors of the Duke of Bourbon, have long been avid collectors of special bottles, especially those of historical significance. They were recently honored at the opening of the A History of California Wine: The David and Judy Breitstein Collection exhibit at The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in Napa Valley.

The following story and pictures are from information provided by the CIA in their press release.

In a ceremony including many noted California winemakers, David and Judy Breitstein, along with CIA Greystone managing director Charles Henning and Chair of CIA Greystone's Rudd Center for Professional Wine Studies Karen MacNeil, unveiled A History of California Wine: The David and Judy Breitstein Collection.
Housed in the historic Vintners Hall of Fame at CIA Greystone, A History of California Wine: The David and Judy Breitstein Collection is the first major educational exhibit to document the rich history of the California wine industry as told through unopened bottles and accompanying informational placards. The 150-plus bottle collection was meticulously amassed over decades by David and Judy Breitstein, early and avid collectors of California wine. The Breitstein's renowned Southern California wine shop, the Duke of Bourbon, has been devoted to California wine since its beginnings in 1967.

("KR" Rombauer is pictured at right with David and Judy. The temperature-controlled display case for the exhibit of the Collection was made possible by a generous grant from Koerner Rombauer, Rombauer Vineyards, Napa Valley.)

"I see wine as art, and each bottle in the Collection has a story to tell of places, people, varietals and moments in a continuum of the California wine industry," notes David Breitstein. "I hope that visitors will come away with a new sense of the unique history of California wine as told through these treasured bottles so expertly displayed at the CIA."
The Breitstein Collection is on permanent loan to the CIA at Greystone, and is curated by Karen MacNeil. The temperature and humidity-controlled, museum-quality display is housed in the CIA at Greystone's Vintners Hall of Fame, which is the historic barrel room of the original Greystone Cellars. The Vintners Hall of Fame was so-christened in 2007 to honor the men and women whose collective vision, determination and hard work have made California one of the most legendary places in the world for fine wine.

(Pictured at the right is Boots Brounstein examining a bottle of California's first cult wine, Diamond Creek 1978 Cabernet Sauvignon, Lake Vineyard. Boots and husband, Al, founded Diamond Creek in 1968 and very quickly grew it to world-class wine status.)

A History of California Wine: The David and Judy Breitstein Collection will be on revolving display, with approximately 40 bottles being shown at any one time. The Collection and the Vintners Hall of Fame will be open to the public in Spring, 2009. This stop is a "must" on your next trip to Napa Valley wine country!

(Pictured at the right is a portion of the display.)

P. S. The St. Helena Star also covered the event. Follow this link to read the article.