Richard Graff
Encyclopedia
Richard Graff was one of the pioneers of modern California winemaking
.
. He first passion was music, culminating in a Bachelor of Arts
from Harvard. While at Harvard he restored an entire theater organ in a local Boston
movie theater. After attending Navy OCS, he served on a destroyer in the Pacific earning a commendation as a gunnery officer. His mechanical abilities and love of the subtleties of music and art led him to his real passion and calling; the making of fine wine and sharing the enjoyment of flavors. He and his family purchased Chalone Vineyard
in 1965. In the Judgment of Paris wine competition
, it was ranked third out of ten.
. Graff was one of the first to bring barrel fermentation and aging to the California winemaking industry. He also initiated the practice of malolactic fermentation
of white wines as well as the importation of French oak barrels into the United States. Graff said "I insist upon the traditional techniques for raising wine which entail minimal handling, so that what comes from the vineyard is carried intact through fermentation
and aging, clarification and bottling, into the wine glass."
With his good friends Julia Child
and Robert Mondavi
, he founded the American Institute of Food and Wine.
airplane crashed due to engine failure on January 9, 1998. After his death the Richard H. Graff Scholarship Fund was established which is funded by the sales of Graff Family Vineyards wines and gives scholarships to food and wine students.
Winemaking
Winemaking, or vinification, is the production of wine, starting with selection of the grapes or other produce and ending with bottling the finished wine. Although most wine is made from grapes, it may also be made from other fruit or non-toxic plant material...
.
Early life
Born on January 20, 1937, he grew up in the San Francisco suburb of DanvilleDanville, California
The Town of Danville is located in the San Ramon Valley in Contra Costa County, California. It is one of the incorporated municipalities in California that uses "town" in its name instead of "city". The population was 42,039 in 2010. Danville is one of the wealthiest suburbs of Oakland and San...
. He first passion was music, culminating in a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Harvard. While at Harvard he restored an entire theater organ in a local Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
movie theater. After attending Navy OCS, he served on a destroyer in the Pacific earning a commendation as a gunnery officer. His mechanical abilities and love of the subtleties of music and art led him to his real passion and calling; the making of fine wine and sharing the enjoyment of flavors. He and his family purchased Chalone Vineyard
Chalone Vineyard
Chalone Vineyard is located in the Chalone AVA south of San Francisco, California, United States, on an unusual geological formation called the Gavilan benchland. The soil is rich in limestone and calcium carbonate and also contains a significant amount of decomposed granite. Chalone is situated in...
in 1965. In the Judgment of Paris wine competition
Wine competition
A wine competition is an organized event in which trained judges or consumers competitively rate different vintages or bands of wine. There are two types of wine competitions, both of which use blind tasting of wine to prevent bias by the judges....
, it was ranked third out of ten.
Winemaking
The vineyard grew into the Chalone Wine Group now owned by DiageoDiageo
Diageo plc is a global alcoholic beverages company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest producer of spirits and a major producer of beer and wine....
. Graff was one of the first to bring barrel fermentation and aging to the California winemaking industry. He also initiated the practice of malolactic fermentation
Malolactic fermentation
Malolactic fermentation is a process in winemaking where tart-tasting malic acid, naturally present in grape must, is converted to softer-tasting lactic acid. Malolactic fermentation tends to create a rounder, fuller mouthfeel. It has been said that malic acid tastes of green apples...
of white wines as well as the importation of French oak barrels into the United States. Graff said "I insist upon the traditional techniques for raising wine which entail minimal handling, so that what comes from the vineyard is carried intact through fermentation
Fermentation (wine)
The process of fermentation in wine turns grape juice into an alcoholic beverage. During fermentation, yeast interact with sugars in the juice to create ethanol, commonly known as ethyl alcohol, and carbon dioxide...
and aging, clarification and bottling, into the wine glass."
With his good friends Julia Child
Julia Child
Julia Child was an American chef, author, and television personality. She is recognized for introducing French cuisine to the American public with her debut cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, and her subsequent television programs, the most notable of which was The French Chef, which...
and Robert Mondavi
Robert Mondavi
Robert Gerald Mondavi was a leading California vineyard operator whose technical improvements and marketing strategies brought worldwide recognition for the wines of the Napa Valley in California. From an early period, Mondavi aggressively promoted labeling wines varietally rather than...
, he founded the American Institute of Food and Wine.
Death
Richard Graff was killed when his Cessna 182Cessna 182
The Cessna 182 Skylane is an American four-seat, single-engine, light airplane, built by Cessna of Wichita, Kansas. It has the option of adding two child seats, installed in the baggage area....
airplane crashed due to engine failure on January 9, 1998. After his death the Richard H. Graff Scholarship Fund was established which is funded by the sales of Graff Family Vineyards wines and gives scholarships to food and wine students.