Korbel Champagne Cellars
Encyclopedia
Korbel Champagne Cellars is a winery based in Guerneville, California
. Korbel primarily manufactures sparkling wine and sells the largest volume of premium traditional Méthode Champenoise sparkling wine in the United States. The company is a division of F. Korbel Brothers, Inc., which also makes brandy
and still wines.
n brothers named Korbel. It was purchased by Adolph Heck in 1954. Heck's son, Gary, took over in 1974, and over time increased production from 150,000 to 1.3 million cases per year, making Korbel the twelfth largest wine producer in the United States as of 2011.
Korbel sparkling wines have been served at the six most recent United States presidential inaugurations. Most recently it was one of the wines served on January 20, 2009, at the Congressional Inaugural Luncheon for US President Barack Obama
. Korbel California Champagne has also been a corporate sponsor of multiple Inaugurations over the past twenty years.
Korbel uses the term "Champagne" on most of its labels. Whereas most other US producers identify their sparkling wine as such, and indicate the location where their grapes are produced, Korbel relies on a "semi-generic
" provision under U.S. law.. Korbel uses the term "California Champagne" and "Russian River Valley Champagne" on many of its labels.
Korbel also produces brandy and still wines. Korbel-marketed wines include Kenwood, Valley of the Moon, Lake Sonoma Winery, and Pininfarina. F. Korbel & Bros. is a private company that is owned and operated by the Heck family. Brown-Forman distributes Korbel California Champagne widely in the United States.
The winery offers tours highlighting the history of the establishment, a tasting room and a gift shop where Korbel products are available for purchase. Both the tasting rooms and gift shop close at 5 PM.
Korbel's brandy
has a particularly strong following in Wisconsin
, which consumes about 28% of their production every year.
Guerneville, California
Guerneville is a town in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma County, California, USA. A popular vacation destination for couples and families as well as corporate retreats and family and friend reunions, Guerneville is well-known for its natural beauty, laid-back attitude, friendly population, good...
. Korbel primarily manufactures sparkling wine and sells the largest volume of premium traditional Méthode Champenoise sparkling wine in the United States. The company is a division of F. Korbel Brothers, Inc., which also makes brandy
Brandy
Brandy is a spirit produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35%–60% alcohol by volume and is typically taken as an after-dinner drink...
and still wines.
History
Korbel was founded in 1882 by two CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
n brothers named Korbel. It was purchased by Adolph Heck in 1954. Heck's son, Gary, took over in 1974, and over time increased production from 150,000 to 1.3 million cases per year, making Korbel the twelfth largest wine producer in the United States as of 2011.
Korbel sparkling wines have been served at the six most recent United States presidential inaugurations. Most recently it was one of the wines served on January 20, 2009, at the Congressional Inaugural Luncheon for US President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
. Korbel California Champagne has also been a corporate sponsor of multiple Inaugurations over the past twenty years.
Products
Semi-generic
Semi-generic is a legal term used in by the United States Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau to refer to a specific type of wine designation. The majority of these were originally based on the names of well-known European wine-producing regions...
" provision under U.S. law.. Korbel uses the term "California Champagne" and "Russian River Valley Champagne" on many of its labels.
Korbel also produces brandy and still wines. Korbel-marketed wines include Kenwood, Valley of the Moon, Lake Sonoma Winery, and Pininfarina. F. Korbel & Bros. is a private company that is owned and operated by the Heck family. Brown-Forman distributes Korbel California Champagne widely in the United States.
The winery offers tours highlighting the history of the establishment, a tasting room and a gift shop where Korbel products are available for purchase. Both the tasting rooms and gift shop close at 5 PM.
Korbel's brandy
Brandy
Brandy is a spirit produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35%–60% alcohol by volume and is typically taken as an after-dinner drink...
has a particularly strong following in Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, which consumes about 28% of their production every year.