[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 62 (Monday, May 3, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E829]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  IN RECOGNITION OF CABERNET SAUVIGNON

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                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 3, 1999

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to 
recognize the Cabernet Sauvignon winegrape, indisputably the grape that 
put California and the United States on the international wine map.
  Cabernet Sauvignon will be celebrated in my hometown St. Helena, 
California from May 10 to May 16 by the California Cabernet Society, 
the Culinary Institute of America, and the Wine Spectator Greystone 
Restaurant, and it's fitting that we honor the ``king'' of red wines.
  Each year the California Cabernet Society stages a Spring Barrel 
Tasting to showcase the most recent vintage. This year's tasting will, 
for the first time, kick off an entire week, Cabernet Week, 
highlighting this varietal and offering consumers the opportunity to 
taste rare and older offerings of America's most treasured grape.
  Cabernet Sauvignon, Mr. Speaker, has a long and distinguished history 
in California and the United States dating back to the late 1800's. It 
is a remarkably steady and consistent performer throughout much of the 
state. In certain areas, it is capable of rendering wines of uncommon 
depth, richness, concentration and longevity. It rises to the greatest 
heights in Napa Valley and its smaller appellations such as Calistoga, 
Oakville, Rutherford, and the Stags Leap District. It also performs 
exceptionally well in the mountains on both sides of the valley, and in 
select vineyards in Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma Valley, 
Sonoma Mountain, Paso Robles, and in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
  I need not remind my colleagues that the renowned 1976 Paris tasting 
rocked the international wine world by placing California Cabernet 
Sauvignon on the same playing field with Bordeaux. Indeed, a few of 
California's offerings were judged as superior wines. A 1973 Stag's 
Leap Wine Cellars' Cabernet Sauvignon scored highest when matched 
against French Bordeaux, which is also made from the Cabernet Sauvignon 
grape. In fact, American wines made a very strong showing throughout 
the competition. The Paris tasting gave international recognition and 
much-needed momentum to American vintners, American wines, and American 
methods of grape growing and wine production.
  Cabernet Sauvignon has come a long way since 1976 and has become a 
model inspiring vintners in France, Italy, Spain, South Africa, Chile, 
Australia and New Zealand to adopt our New World technology and 
technique. Cabernet produces wines of great intensity and depth of 
flavor. A $1.5 billion business in California, Cabernet Sauvignon is 
the most regal of all wines and is second only to Zinfandel in total 
red-wine acreage. Because of the high esteem of Cabernet and the way it 
compliments a meal, a huge proportion of the varietal wines are sold in 
the best restaurants worldwide.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe it is fitting and appropriate at this time to 
honor Cabernet Sauvignon, the king of red wine. I raise my glass to the 
California Cabernet Society, the Culinary Institute of America and the 
Wine Spectator Greystone Restaurant for their tremendous generosity to 
the community and their meritorious service, and I wish them well this 
coming Cabernet Week.

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