Europe
has been involved in the wine industry for hundreds of year. But did you know that the U.S. could have also been an active player 400 years ago, if not for colonists other interest?
It all began on July 16, 1619 when the King of
England, and a Virginia colonist by the name of George Yeardley, decided to
start a vineyard of French grapes in the New World.
Ten
years before, in 1609, Sir George had set sail for Jamestown as a captain in
charge of soldiers but was shipwrecked in Bermuda. Passengers from the doomed
ship worked together and built two more ships from supplies on the island. They
arrived safely in Jamestown 10 months later.
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| The Starving Time |
But
Jamestown was in a desperate state, with most of the settlers dead from
sickness, starvation, or Indian attacks. Captain Yeardley and his men were
ordered to protect the town until help arrived. Once it had, Yeardley led 150
men into the mountains to search for gold and silver that could be mined.
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| Chickahominy Indian Agreement |
Just
four years later, in 1616, Yeardley was appointed Deputy-Governor of Virginia.
Understanding what the colony needed to survive and thrive, he promptly reached
an agreement with the Chickahominy Indian that secured peace and food for the
settlers for two years. He was
appointed to the post again in 1625.
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| House of Burgesess |
Yeardley
was well respected in the community. He presided over the initial session of
Virginia’s first representative legislative body, known then as the House of
Burgesess, (Virginia General Assembly) on July 30, 1619. In November 1619, Yeardley was
appointed to serve as governor of Virginia until 1622.
 |
| King James I |
King
James I was against colonists growing tobacco. He touted Virginia as a fruitful
land and saw an opportunity for wine to become a major export product to
England. Under the king’s orders, Yeardley took French grapevines back to
Jamestown to be cultivated by vignerons (winemakers) who knew how to tend the vines correctly and could
produce a drinkable wine.
Although
there were abundant wild grapes in the New World, the “wine” produced from them
was acidic and sour. Colonists had no patience with winemaking and let the wine
“age” 5 or 6 days before drinking it. The French grapes flourished but the
winemaker died.
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| How to Make Wine |
By
1620, more winemakers and over 10,000 vines had arrived in the New World. King
James I commanded that every householder in the colony be given a booklet written by John Bonoeil with the "instructions how to plant and dress
vines, and to make wine."
These booklets were the first written instructions given to American
winemakers.
According
to Bonoeil’s instructions, “if the grapes be too hard, they may boil them
with some water; . . . and then let them work thus together five or six days .
. . After that, you may draw it, and barrel it, as we have said, and use it
when you need. I have oftentimes seen such wine made reasonable good for the
household. And by this means every man may presently have wine in Virginia to
drink.”
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| Jamestown in 1620 |
But
the colonists had little time or patience to plant and tend wine grapes; there
was far too much money to be made with tobacco. What
wine that did get sent back to Britain was said to have spoiled during the long
voyage and was considered to be “rather of scandal than credit
to us."
By
1625, the king had commanded that vineyards be planted by all land owners – “Wherefore
now we have taken an order that every plantation . . . shall impale [fence] two
acres of ground, and employ the sole labor of 2 men in that business [planting
grape vines] for the term of 7 years, enlarging the same two acres more, with a
like increase of labor . . . By this means I hope this work will go really
forward, and the better if good store of Spanish or French vines may be sent
us.”
The
Virginia General Assembly also passed a law that required every male over the
age of 20 to plant 20 grape vines.
But in the end, colonists refused to give up
the economical advantages of growing tobacco, and the vineyards and winemaking fell
to the wayside. By the mid-1650’s it was apparent, Virginia was not going to
become the land of wine and vines. Tobacco was king and would reign for another
300 years.
~
Joy
The
normal requirements when traveling to a winery with your four-legged friend are
usually the same; keep it on a leash, keep it under control, and clean up after
it. (If only we could have these rules for some children…) You’ll find that
many wineries will also offer fresh water and treats for furry visitors. 
But before
you head out with your furry friend, call the wineries you expect to visit and inquire if dogs are allowed in the tasting room. Also, check the winery web
site for a pet info section that can give you more information on bringing
your pet for a visit.
Or visit a new website called Fido Factor http://www.fidofactor.com.
This is like Trip Advisor or Yelp for pets. Simply enter the location where you’ll be
going and up pops pet-friendly businesses along with pertinent information to
make your visit more comfortable. Fido Factors include crowd size, noise level, permitted
dog size, and areas where dogs are allowed. You can even leave a review and
rate your experience with dog biscuits; 1 biscuit is disappointing – 5
outstanding. Plus, the site offers nearby locations that are also pet-friendly.
And
many wineries and wine trails are getting involved by offering dog-centric
events including annual open houses, dog costume contests, vineyard strolls,
Yappy Hours, and annual benefits to assist and raise awareness for local rescue
and adoption societies.
Spoiled
Dog Winery in Whidbey Island, Washington is named for the owner’s Australian
Shepard’s, Blue and Sami. Of course, these aren’t the only spoiled dogs around
so each September the winery holds its annual Spoiled Dog Contest. http://www.spoileddogwinery.com
Spotted
Dog Winery in Saline, Michigan is named for the family’s two Dalmatians, Holmes
and Watson. The wine line offers such pooch appealing names as Good
Dog, Bad Dog, Rollover, and Speak. http://www.spotteddogwinery.com
The
House of Mutt-Lynch Winery is located in Healdsburg, California. Patch, the
resident Greyhound, is a rescue dog and a portion of the proceeds of every
bottle goes to support local animal rescue groups. Mutt-Lynch’s motto is: Apply
Dog Logic to Life: Eat Well, Be Loved, Get Petted, Sleep A lot, Dream of a
Leash-Free World. –
Sark http://www.muttlynchwinery.com
Sleeping
Dog Wines is located in Benton City, Washington. Named for Aurora, their
“sleeping dog”, the winery offers several wines including a Tail Wagger Red.
Aurora is kept company by Bella and Syrah, the winery cats. http://sleepingdogwines.com
Big
Dog Vineyard in Milpitas, California is named for the owners’ big dog, Cab who
has a Cabernet named after him – or vise-versa… In fact, Cabs are a specialty
here with 7 on the wine list, including a Cabernet Dessert Wine. http://www.bigdogvineyards.com
Besides
wineries, many restaurants and bars are also becoming dog friendly. While U.S.
health regulations do not allow animals inside a business where food is
prepared, many restaurants with outdoor accommodations can offer pet lovers patio or
deck seating and allow their four-legged friends to dine there also.
Another
wine club for dog lovers is Cru Vin Dogs. This wine group combines wine, dogs,
fine art and worthy causes “into a wine brand with a purpose. Wine that
gives back. Wine that makes a difference.” A
portion of the proceeds of your purchase goes to canine service organizations, animal shelters
and dog rescue groups.
