Gustavo Brambila
Encyclopedia
Gustavo Brambila is a Mexican-American winemaker in the Napa Valley. He was portrayed in the movie Bottle Shock
, although he was not actually involved with the 1976 Judgement of Paris blind wine tasting.
where he assisted in quality control. He joined just after the events covered in Bottle Shock
. Brambila followed Grgich when Grgich Hills Cellar
was created in 1977. He worked there for 23 years before leaving in 1999 to become the general manager and winemaker at Peju Province Winery.
In 1996, he teamed up with Thrace Bromberger to form GustavoThrace Winery which was making 3,800 cases in 2004 and 7,000 cases in 2008. They produce a mix of Merlot, Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc, Barbera, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon. They also own the Napa Wine Merchants cooperative tasting room as well as several thousand acres in the Chiles Valley.
Since 2002, he has consulted with Taylor Family Vineyards on their Cabernet Sauvignon
. In 2008, he began crafting private label wines for the Wine Pod, an automated wine presser and fermenter.
in the 2008 indie film Bottle Shock
. In the film, the character is directly involved in the 1976 tasting although in reality, he was not. He worked in the lab on quality control. Brambila spent time with Rodriguez before filming. Since the film was released, there has been a noticeable increase in business at his winery.
Bottle Shock
Bottle Shock is a 2008 American comedy-drama film based on the 1976 wine competition termed the "Judgment of Paris", when California wine defeated French wine in a blind taste test. It stars Alan Rickman, Chris Pine, and Bill Pullman and is directed by Randall Miller, who wrote the screenplay along...
, although he was not actually involved with the 1976 Judgement of Paris blind wine tasting.
Early life
He was born in Jalisco, Mexico in 1953 and moved with his family to Rutherford in the Napa Valley in 1957.Career
Brambila earned a degree in fermentation science at the University of California, Davis, one of the first Latinos to do so. In 1976 he was hired by Grgich at Chateau MontelenaChateau Montelena
Chateau Montelena is a Napa Valley winery most famous for winning the white wine section of the historic "Judgement of Paris" wine competition. Chateau Montelena's Chardonnay was in competition with nine other wines from France and California under blind tasting...
where he assisted in quality control. He joined just after the events covered in Bottle Shock
Bottle Shock
Bottle Shock is a 2008 American comedy-drama film based on the 1976 wine competition termed the "Judgment of Paris", when California wine defeated French wine in a blind taste test. It stars Alan Rickman, Chris Pine, and Bill Pullman and is directed by Randall Miller, who wrote the screenplay along...
. Brambila followed Grgich when Grgich Hills Cellar
Grgich Hills Cellar
Grgich Hills Estate is a winery located in Rutherford, California in the heart of the Napa Valley. The winery changed its name in 2006 when it first began producing only "estate grown" wines made from grapes grown exclusively in vineyards owned by the winery. The Napa Valley Wine Train has a...
was created in 1977. He worked there for 23 years before leaving in 1999 to become the general manager and winemaker at Peju Province Winery.
In 1996, he teamed up with Thrace Bromberger to form GustavoThrace Winery which was making 3,800 cases in 2004 and 7,000 cases in 2008. They produce a mix of Merlot, Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc, Barbera, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon. They also own the Napa Wine Merchants cooperative tasting room as well as several thousand acres in the Chiles Valley.
Since 2002, he has consulted with Taylor Family Vineyards on their 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...
. In 2008, he began crafting private label wines for the Wine Pod, an automated wine presser and fermenter.
Bottle Shock
Brambila was portrayed by Freddy RodriguezFreddy Rodriguez
Freddy Rodriguez is an American actor known for playing the characters Hector Federico "Rico" Diaz on HBO's Six Feet Under and El Wray in Robert Rodriguez's Planet Terror...
in the 2008 indie film Bottle Shock
Bottle Shock
Bottle Shock is a 2008 American comedy-drama film based on the 1976 wine competition termed the "Judgment of Paris", when California wine defeated French wine in a blind taste test. It stars Alan Rickman, Chris Pine, and Bill Pullman and is directed by Randall Miller, who wrote the screenplay along...
. In the film, the character is directly involved in the 1976 tasting although in reality, he was not. He worked in the lab on quality control. Brambila spent time with Rodriguez before filming. Since the film was released, there has been a noticeable increase in business at his winery.