Timeline

1832 Jacob Schram, son of Herman and Annie Wagner Schram, was born in Pheddersheim, near the city of Worms on the Rhine River in Germany. His father was a captain under Napoleon, uncle was General Schram of the Napoleonic wars.

1833 Annie Christine Weber was born in Hochheim, Germany on October 2.

1842 Schram set out for America, leaving Germany in order to avoid the draft.

1842-1852    Schram arrived in New York, where he learned and practiced barbering in the New York area. 

1850 John Patchet established the first commercial winery in Napa Valley.

1852 Schram started his journey to San Francisco.

1854 Schram arrived in San Francisco aboard the steamer Yankee Blade. He worked as a barber in San Francisco and Marysville, and opened the Metropolitan Theatre Tonsorial Parlor in San Francisco.

1857 First commercial shipment of wine from Napa. Schram went to White Sulfur Springs as a barber during the social season. Fire of that year burned him out of “house and home.”

1858 Schram relocated to Napa city; opened a barber shop

1859 Jacob Schram and Annie Christine Weber were married.

1861-1862 Count Agoston Haraszthy returned from a survey of European vineyards with cuttings from 300 grape varietals.

1862 Jacob Schram purchased the 200-acre Mt. Diamond property from the government and began development of Napa hillside vineyards. Herman Adolph Schram was born.

1869 The Transcontinental Railway was completed, creating a surplus of Chinese laborers in the San Francisco area.

1870 Schramsberg had 30,000 vines; Chinese laborers dug Napa’s first hillside caves for wine aging and storage at Schramsberg Vineyards.

1875 Schram Victorian mansion with stately veranda completed on vineyard site

1877 Schram sold a 40-acre piece of property to Colin McEachran.

1879 Schramsberg winery produced 5,500 cases of wine.

1880 Author Robert Louis Stevenson visited Schramsberg. Descriptions of his stay are recorded in his book, “Silverado Squatters.” Schramsberg produced 8,403 cases of wine from 50 acres of vines.

1881 Construction for second set of cellar tunnels began. In the previous 17 years, Schramsberg winery pressed 87,237 cases of wine.

1885-1900 Phylloxera epidemic in the Napa Valley; reported to be minor at Schramsberg

1888 Second set of cellar tunnels completed

1889 Schramsberg and Inglenook were the only California wines listed on the menu at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco.

1890 Schramsberg produced 540,000 pounds of grapes (approx. 28,361 cases of wine) from 100 acres of grapes.

1891 Wines produced at Schramsberg were listed as Zinfandel, Sauvignon Vert, Burgundy, Hock, Sauternes and Riesling. Schramsberg Riesling served to President Harrison at Palace Hotel in San Francisco.

1905 Jacob Schram died. Property inherited by son, Herman.

1912 The winery ceased operation and was sold.

1920-1933 The 21st Amendment ends Prohibition. Schramsberg was sold to a firm of investment speculators.

1921 Property was purchased by Captain Raymond C. Naylor as a summer home

1933 18th Amendment repealed

1940 Schramsberg purchased by John Gargano and his California Champagne Company.

1951 California Champagne Company and Schramsberg purchased by Douglas Pringle. He revived the Schramsberg label for both Champagne and table wines.

1957 Schramsberg was declared a Historical Monument by the California Historical Society

1960 Douglas Pringle died; winery was locked up by widow. Jamie Peterman and Jack Davies married in the Memorial Chapel at Stanford University.

1965 200-acre Schramsberg property purchased by Jack and Jamie Davies. First crush of grapes under the Davies proprietorship of Schramsberg Vineyards and Cellars. Crush included the sole use of Chardonnay from the Charles Krug winery for Champagne: an innovation in the United States. Schramsberg used the traditional méthode champenoise style of winemaking to produce premium-quality sparkling wines. Hugh Davies was born the month after the family took over the winery.

1967 Schramsberg produced vintage-dated Blanc de Noirs of Pinot Noir grapes: another innovation in the United States.

1968 Schramsberg introduced Cuvée de Gamay of Napa Gamay grape, a vintage-dated brut rosé: another first in the United States. Napa Valley Agricultural Preserve was established, spearheaded by Jack Davies. This would be the nation’s first such agricultural preserve.

1972 Schramsberg introduced Crémant Demi-sec, produced from the Flora grape in a creamy, less effervescent style, which was vintage-dated — once again pioneering a new style of sparkling wine in the U.S. market. (February 25) Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs 1969 served at State Dinner “Toast to Peace” hosted by President Richard Nixon for Premier Chou En-lai in Beijing, China. This was the first time Schramsberg or any American wine was served at a White House or State event, both at home and abroad.

1978 Diplôme de l’Excellence Européenne (Diploma of European Excellence) presented to Schramsberg. The award was designed to recognize the achievement of excellence within the arts and other fields. 

1979 Cuvée de Gamay replaced with Cuvée de Pinot (using Pinot Noir grapes): a wine with more finesse, lightness, and delicacy than the earlier style.

1980 Schramsberg Reserve introduced: an innovative, vintage-dated wine aged on the yeast four years before disgorging.

1983 First Schramsberg grapes sourced for sparkling wine from the Carneros region because of its proximity to cool, marine air.

1984 California Museum of Science and Industry in Los Angeles (now the California Science Center) presented Schramsberg with Junipero Serra Award for outstanding contributions in the fields of engineering and science.

1985 19th-century, 20-acre McEachran Winery Estate purchased by Davies; reunites under single ownership these two historical, contiguous California properties. First use of barrel fermentation in production of Schramsberg sparkling wines. Schramsberg won first Wine Spectator Critic’s Choice award.

1986(July 4) Schramsberg served at the Statue of Liberty for Liberty Weekend festivities; historic salmanazar large-format bottle placed in Liberty Island Museum.

1987 Davies started sourcing grapes from cooler, coastal sites for sparkling wines. First non-Napa fruit used at Schramsberg.

1990 Anderson Valley fruit in Mendocino County added to mix of vineyard sources.

1992 Schramsberg’s J. Schram, America’s first Tête de Cuvée, was introduced in London.

1994 The replanting of the winery’s historic Diamond Mountain property to Cabernet Sauvignon and the red Bordeaux varietals began. International Wine and Spirit Competition in London awarded Gold Medal to 1988 J. Schram.

1995 Schramsberg’s 30th anniversary celebrated with a series of cross-country champagne dinners created by James Beard Foundation chefs. The 30th Anniversary Cuvée, a Blanc de Noirs with 10 years on the yeast, is served, and a scholarship fund for food and champagne pairing is established at the Culinary Institute of America’s Greystone campus in the Napa Valley.

1996 Hugh Davies joined Schramsberg with a master’s degree in enology from University of California, Davis. First red, Bordeaux-style wines made at winery. Jack and Jamie presented with James Beard Foundation Outstanding Wine and Spirits Professional Award.

1998 Jack Davies passed away and Jamie became president and chairman of the company. Jack L. Davies Napa Valley Land Preservation Fund established. Schramsberg’s Napa Valley Querencia Rosé produced with the proceeds going to the fund.

1999-2000 Special Schramsberg Millennium cuvées released, including late-disgorged 1988 Blanc de Noirs and 1990 J. Schram. Hugh Davies became head winemaker.

2003 Schramsberg 1996 J. Schram voted Best Overall Wine and Best Sparkling Wine at Sydney International Wine Competition. This was the first time that an American wine or a sparkling wine had ever won these two awards.

2004 First vintage of J. Davies Diamond Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon (2001) released. The wine was named in honor of Jack Davies. Davies family chaired the Napa Valley Wine Auction.

2005 Schramsberg celebrated 40th anniversary with a series of special dinners across the country and release of 1994 late-disgorged Blanc de Blancs, Blanc de Noirs and Reserve. Hugh was named president of Schramsberg Vineyards and Jamie remained chairman. Hugh was also elected president of the Napa Valley Vintners Association.

2006 Third vintage of J. Davies (2003) released in April. Inaugural J. Schram Rosé (1998), America’s first Tête de Cuvée Rosé, released September 1. Jamie and Hugh received the COPIA Wine Award’s Lifetime Achievement Award. New production building completed.

2007 Camp Schramsberg expanded to include Spring Blending session, March 18-20.

2008 Matriarch Jamie Davies passed away on February 12. The oak grove in the lower vineyard was dedicated as “Jack and Jamie’s Grove.” New visitor center was completed and opened to the public on May 1. NASA astronaut Ken Ham piloted the Space Shuttle Discovery on its 26th mission to the International Space Station with Schramsberg labels and corks in his pocket.

2009 Schramsberg received final certification under both the Napa Green Winery Program and the Napa Green Certified Land program.

2010 A 466,806 kilowatt-hours solar display consisting of 1,655 panels was installed at the winery.

2012 Schramsberg celebrated the 150th anniversary of Jacob Schram’s founding of the property. First harvest occurs at new Davies Vineyard Winery. Schramsberg Vineyards celebrates the 40th anniversary of President Nixon’s “Toast to Peace.”

2015 Schramsberg Vineyards celebrates the 50th anniversary of Jack & Jamie Davies revival of the property.

2017 Sean Thompson is promoted to Director of Winemaking. Grayson Building opens in St. Helena, a new location for guests to taste Davies and Schramsberg wines.