David Bruce Winery
Encyclopedia
David Bruce Winery is a California wine
ry located at about 2200 feet (670.6 m) elevation in the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA
above Silicon Valley
in Northern California
. It was established by dermatologist David Bruce, M.D., in 1961 about a mile away from the Martin Ray Vineyard that often appears on vineyard designated wines from David Bruce. The vineyard achieved international visibility when one of the winery's Chardonnay
s was featured in the 1975 wine tasting
competition that became known as the Judgment of Paris. Today the winery specializes in Pinot Noir
.
In 1975, British wine merchant Steven Spurrier selected 1973 bottling of David Bruce Chardonnay for his 1975 Paris tasting that would pit Californian Chardonnays and Cabernet Sauvignon
against their French counterparts from Burgundy and Bordeaux, respectively. While the overall Chardonnay category was won by a Californian wine from Napa Valley, the 1973 David Bruce Chardonnay placed last of the 10 Chardonnays being tasted.
California wine
California wine has a long and continuing history, and in the late twentieth century became recognized as producing some of the world's finest wine. While wine is made in all fifty U.S. states, up to 90% of American wine is produced in the state...
ry located at about 2200 feet (670.6 m) elevation in the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA
Santa Cruz Mountains AVA
The Santa Cruz Mountains AVA is an American Viticultural Area centered around the Santa Cruz Mountains. It includes three counties in California: Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and San Mateo. Recognized as an AVA in 1981, the Santa Cruz Mountains Appellation was among the first to be defined by its...
above Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley is a term which refers to the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California in the United States. The region is home to many of the world's largest technology corporations...
in Northern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It was established by dermatologist David Bruce, M.D., in 1961 about a mile away from the Martin Ray Vineyard that often appears on vineyard designated wines from David Bruce. The vineyard achieved international visibility when one of the winery's Chardonnay
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is a green-skinned grape variety used to make white wine. It is originated from the Burgundy wine region of eastern France but is now grown wherever wine is produced, from England to New Zealand...
s was featured in the 1975 wine tasting
Wine tasting
Wine tasting is the sensory examination and evaluation of wine. While the practice of wine tasting is as ancient as its production, a more formalized methodology has slowly become established from the 14th century onwards...
competition that became known as the Judgment of Paris. Today the winery specializes in Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir
Pinot noir is a black wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera. The name may also refer to wines created predominantly from Pinot noir grapes...
.
History
David Bruce Winery was founded during the revival of the Santa Cruz Mountain wine industry between the 1950s and 1970s. Bruce selected his vineyard site because of its proximity to Martin Ray and with the belief that the high elevation and mesoclimate of the area would be well suited for growing the Burgundian wine grapes of Pinot noir and Chardonnay.In 1975, British wine merchant Steven Spurrier selected 1973 bottling of David Bruce Chardonnay for his 1975 Paris tasting that would pit Californian Chardonnays and Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world's most widely recognized red wine grape varieties. It is grown in nearly every major wine producing country among a diverse spectrum of climates from Canada's Okanagan Valley to Lebanon's Beqaa Valley...
against their French counterparts from Burgundy and Bordeaux, respectively. While the overall Chardonnay category was won by a Californian wine from Napa Valley, the 1973 David Bruce Chardonnay placed last of the 10 Chardonnays being tasted.