[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16484]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING JED STEELE OF LAKE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 23, 2010

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today as co-founder 
of the Congressional Wine Caucus to pay tribute to Jed Steele for 42 
years of excellence in the wine industry.
  Mr. Steele began his journey as a cellar worker at Stony Hill in Napa 
Valley in 1968. From there, he received his Masters in Enology from UC 
Davis and went to work at Edmeades Vineyards in Mendocino County. He 
moved on to Kendall-Jackson in Lake County in 1982. By the time Jed 
left Kendall-Jackson in 1991, they increased production from 35,000 
cases to one million cases and had become one of the premier wineries 
in California. In 1991, Jed founded Steele Wines in Lake County and to 
this day makes some of the most highly-regarded wines in the world.
  Mr. Steele is a true giant in the wine business. He made 74 wines 
that scored 90 points or higher in the Wine Spectator. Six of his wines 
made the ``Top 100 Wines of the Year'' list in the same publication. In 
1989, Wine and Spirits Magazine named Jed Winemaker of the Year. In 
1990, he received the Robert Mondavi trophy as the Best California 
Winemaker from the International Wine Society in London.
  Jed does not just make great wine--he is an innovator who gives back 
to his industry. In 1977, he produced the first commercial American ice 
wine from grapes grown in Mendocino County. He was also a leader in the 
creation of American Viticultural Areas in Anderson Valley and Clear 
Lake. He was the founder and served as director of the annual Mendocino 
County Wine judging.
  Madam Speaker and colleagues, it is my distinct pleasure to recognize 
Jed Steele for his many years of leadership and excellence in 
winemaking. The American wine industry owes him an enormous debt of 
gratitude. I join the other members of the Congressional Wine Caucus 
and the entire community in wishing him continued success and 
fulfillment.

                          ____________________