Jacuzzi Family Vineyards Barbera, Mendocino County

Description

Jacuzzi Family Vineyards’ story begins in America in 1907 when Valeriano and Francesco Jacuzzi, sons of Giovanni and Teresa Jacuzzi, immigrated to Washington to work on the railroad. Eventually they moved to the warmer climes of southern California to work in the aviation industry and were joined there by various other members of the family, including four more brothers, and their father Giovanni (a a skilled wood worker and vineyard farmer). Valeriano started working with his brothers at their Jacuzzi Brothers factory. Valeriano moved his family to Northern California and purchased a 161-acre farm in Contra Costa County.

During the depression, shortly after 1921, Valeriano decided to begin growing grapes and the the vineyard was planted to Zinfandel, Carignane and Mourvedre. In 1937, Valeriano returned to work with his brothers at Jacuzzi Brothers, Inc. located in Berkeley, CA where they manufactured water well pumps and eventually, the bath and spa that bears their name. The Jacuzzi Family Vineyards wine-making story properly begins with Fred Cline founding Cline Cellars near Oakley, California and, in 1991, the winery was relocated to the Carneros region of Sonoma, California.

In 1994 the first Jacuzzi Family Vineyards wine was produced. Barbera hails from the hills of Northern Italy’s Piemonte region. The majority of Jacuzzi’s Barbera comes from a vineyard west of Ukiah in Mendocino County. The vineyard is planted in rocky, well drained soil. Warm days and cool evening breezes provide ideal growing weather and contributes to fruit concentration and acid. Aged 12 months on 30% new French Medium toasted oak.