Charles Krug was born in Trendelburg, near Cassel, Prussia, Germany, March 1st, 1825. He arrived in San Francisco June 14th, 1852. In January of 1858, he went to Sonoma and purchased a place from Colonel Haraszthy, and planted twenty acres of vines upon the tract inside the next three years. In 1858, during his residence in Sonoma, John Parchett who lived near Napa City, while on a visit to Sonoma, stated to Mr Krug that he had a fine crop of grapes on his place, and was desirous of having them made into wine. Mr Krugaccepted this proposition and started to make wine with a small cider press. This press made the first wine ever made in Napa County. This is how Charles Krug became the pioneer of an industry.

And with a huge willpower and a willingness to work, the 27 year old Prussion immigrant Charles Krug founded his winery in 1861.

After his death in 1892, James Moffitt purchased the wine in 1893, and in 1943, he found a pioneering spirit in Cesare and Rosa Mondavi, Italian immigrants witha passion for wine. At Cesare’s death in 1959, his wife Rosa was names president of the Company. And in 1966, their son Peter became President and his brother Robert moved south to Oakvill and began the construction of his own winery.

Peter’s industry innovations contributed to his being named one of the twelve “living legends” in Napa Valley’s history by the Napa Valley Vintners Association.

Today, with 850 acres of vine-land in the Napa Valley, Peter Mondavi Jr and his family have made a commitment to producing wine that represents the best of NapaValley. They have replanted vineyards, better matching what’s planted to the soil and climate of each of their vineyards. Along with their clonal selections for growing red Bordeaux varietals that is the key to much of their redevelopment, they also moved to organic and sustainable farming practices in the majority of the vineyards, and this contributes to the production of the best wines from the Napa Valley.