Newsletter

January 2023

The Wine History Project collects and archives over 250 years of wine history in San Luis Obispo County. Visit us at www.winehistoryproject.org

Each month we post biographies of legendary growers, winemakers, innovators, movers and shakers. We highlight tools and equipment from our historic collections. We write the history of American wine and review books and films for your enjoyment.

Our first exhibition of the New Year opened at the Paso Robles History Museum (PRHM) last Friday, January 27 with a preview for museum members. How the Italians Changed the Landscape and Wine Culture of San Luis Obispo County celebrates the remarkable contributions of those men and women who emigrated from Northern Italy to Templeton, in the early 1900s. They cleared the dense oak forests, developed new industries, planted vineyards, built wineries and mentored generations of Italians who are still working the land and making fine wines. Our thanks to Grace Pucci for her remarkable presentation on the Charcoal Industry, Janell Dusi and Frank Nerelli for sharing their family histories and Zinfandel wines. Brian and Stephy Terrizzi served food crafted at their new restaurant, The ETTO Pasta Bar, in Tin City. Multi-generations of local Italian families attended and shared their history. You may visit the exhibit at the PRHM from 11 AM to 3 PM, Thursday through Monday, but we are bringing it to you live on our website

Our local wine history told by Libbie Agran was featured on Monday, January 30 on KCBX - Issues and Ideas 1:00 to 2:00 with Host Betsey Nash - The Grape Nut. Tune in or listen to the podcast on Thursday at KCBX.org

The Amphorae Project - Past Forward 

8,000 Years of Winemaking in Clay Vessels 
 Date: February 2nd - 4th  

Our latest film will be featured at the 2023 Documentary Film Festival in Tbilisi, Georgia, the cradle of ancient winemaking, this week - February 2 to 4, 2023.

Screening Of The Amphorae Project - Past Forward & Wine Tasting

 Date: March 9th  
Location: Cameo Cinema, on St. Helena in Napa Valley - The Biggest Little Theater in Wine Country | 1340 Main St, St Helena, CA 94574
 

Karen MacNeil and our local winemakers will share their wines at a reception following on March 9th. Tickets will go on sale shortly to benefit local charities!

Our film features local winemakers John Alban, Daniel Callan, Manu Fiorentini, Vailia From, Gerert Hart, Sherman Thacher, Brian Terrizzi, Stephanie Terrizi, and world-famous archaeologist Dr. Patrick McGovern. Karen MacNeil, wine writer and author of The Wine Bible, narrates the film. 

Celebrating Italian Women, Wine, Pasta, & Polenta - New Exhibit

  Date: March & April  
Location: Paso Robles History Museum

The Wine History Project is documenting the role of the wives and daughters of Italian farmers, charcoal makers, growers, and winemakers. We are collecting photos, letters, articles, postcards, empty and full bottles of wine, labels and recipes. These women have cleared the land, planted vines, tilled the soil, picked grapes, run the harvests, made and sold wine, and cooked for hundreds of family members and vineyard workers each day. We are collecting their memories and recipes. We will open an exhibit on three pioneers in March at the Paso Robles History Museum:

• Caterina Dusi
• Catterina Pesenti
• Silvia Nerelli
• Dorothy Dusi
• Joni Dusi

The Paso Robles History Museum will be hosting events honoring these women and their contributions to local history. Look for a Festival Celebrating Italian Cuisine in April.

Frank Nerelli has been growing grapes and making award-winning wines for over 50 years. He is the grandson of two remarkable Italian grape growers and winemakers, Frank Pesenti and Lorenzo Nerelli, who emigrated from Northern Italy to Templeton in the early 1900s. Both men “changed the landscape of San Luis Obispo County” and left an important legacy that the Wine History Project is documenting and archiving.

Please add your memories - contact Libbie@winehistoryproject.org. 

Supporting Organizations
 

John Roush - Park Cinemas, Paso Robles
 

Cathy Buck - Cameo Cinema, St. Helena

The Agran Family from Coast to Coast

ASAP Reprographics

Central Coast State Parks Association

College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Science Wine and Viticulture Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo

Community Foundation of San Luis Obispo County

The Dana Adobe and Cultural Center

Dr. David Lordkipanidze, Director National Museum of Georgia

Pacific Coast Farming

Partners to Media - Tim Clott and Noel Resnick

Paso Robles Downtown Main Street Association

 Paso Robles History Museum

Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance

SLO Wine Country

University of Pennsylvania Archaeological Museum

Wonderful Nurseries

John Alban

Erin Amaral

Daniel Anderson

Justin Baldwin

Josh and Gibsey Beckett

Richard Blake

David and Judy Breitstein

Don and Gail Campbell

Janice Cannon

Lexi Carreno

Howard and Vicki Carroll

Neil Collins

Jim and Betsey Cordigan

Michael Cussen

Garett Dana

Gina DeGirolamo

Carla Deluca

Jill Di Santo

Janell Dusi

Joni and Mike Dusi

Gary Eberle

Jim Efird

Manu and Jordan Fiorentini

Jen Fox and her Boards

Vailia From

Lucia Albino Gilbert and John Gilbert

Lori and Steve Goldman

Rod Goss

Amy Hart

Gelert and Robyn Hart

Phillip Hart

Jason Haas

Randy Heinzen

Erik Hormann

Len Hoskins

Gail Kammermeyer

Cindy Lambert

Beniot Lecat PhD.

Charity Nerelli MacGillivray

Karen MacNeil

Jenna Rovenstine Martinez

Patrick McGovern PhD.

Jim McCormick

June McIvor

Norma Moye

John Munch

Tom Myers

Rick Nagano

Betsey Nash - The Grape Nut

Frank and Connie Nerelli

John Niven - Cadre Wines

Tim Northrop

Steve Peck

Karen Petersen

Jean Catherine Dodson Peterson PhD.

Grace Pucci

Benjamin Purper, KCBX Public Radio

Madison Quiring

Suzanne Goldman Redberg

Andrea Rockwell

Rob Rossi

Linda Sanpei

Bob Schiebelhut

Mike Sinor

Pebble Smith

Clif Swanson

Brian and Stephanie Terrizzi

Sherman and Michelle Thacher
Cindy Steinbeck

Howard and Beverly Steinbeck

Leslie Thomas and Richard Salzberg

Clay and Fredericka Thompson

 Terrance and Nancy Tweedie

Gail Unzelman

Bill Weiger

Tom Westburg

Jillian Whelan

Nick Wilkinson - Botanica

Jan York

Margaret Zuech