[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 79 (Monday, May 8, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E617]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING THE TREFETHEN FAMILY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 8, 2017

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
Trefethen family, John, Janet, Lorenzo, Hailey and, posthumously, 
Eugene and Catherine, for their hard work, dogged perseverance and 
community involvement.
  The Trefethen family first restored their historic McIntyre Winery, 
which is on the National Register for Historic Places, in 1973. In 
August of 2014 the largest earthquake in the Bay Area since 1989 caused 
significant damage to the winery. Rather than scrapping their 
winemaking operations and moving elsewhere, they stayed and rebuilt the 
winery and will hold a celebratory re-opening this week.
  Led largely by Hailey, the McIntyre building has been resurrected and 
now includes a new base that is earthquake resistant. The McIntyre 
building today contains 85 percent of the original building material 
and will use the same 19th century pipes to distill the famous Trefthen 
family wine.
  When Gene moved to the Napa Valley 50 years ago, the Trefethen family 
began a long tradition of community involvement. The family donates 
wine to many community events annually to be auctioned for charitable 
causes including children at risk and the environment, two of the 
family's passions.
  The Wine Community is integral to our way of life in my district. The 
Trefethen family has done more than their part to support our 
community. John was the founding President of the Napa Valley 
Grapegrowers and has served multiple terms on the Napa Valley Vinters 
Board. Janet served on the Board of Directors for the Queen of the 
Valley Foundation and founded the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley, 
where she lead the effort to have it recognized as an American 
Viticulture Area in 2004. Hailey recently finished serving terms on the 
Board of California Institute and the Napa Valley Vintners.
  Mr. Speaker, on May 7, the Trefethen's will host their winery's grand 
re-opening. True to their love of community, it will feature local high 
school choirs, vocalists and a barbershop quartet. They have worked 
hard to preserve their winery. It is fitting and proper that we honor 
them here today.

                          ____________________