Paul masson alcohol
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Paul Masson
American businessman (1859–1940)
For the Olympic competitor, see Paul Masson (cyclist).
Paul Masson | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1859-02-14)February 14, 1859 Merceuil, Côte-d'Or, France |
| Died | (aged 82) San Jose, California, United States |
| Occupation | Viticulturist |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Louise Lefranc (m. 1888; died 1936) |
| Children | 1 |
Paul Masson (February 14, 1859 – October 22, 1940) was a French-born American winemaker. He is considered an early pioneer of Californiaviticulture known for his brand of Californian sparkling wine.
Biography
Masson was born as the second child to wealthy parents in Merceuil, a wine village outside of Beaune. Both his paternal and maternal families were prominent vintners local to Burgundy, with his mother's side, the Boillot-Grozeliers, hailing from Volnay. In 1877, after finishing his secondary education, his parents arranged for his emigration to the United States, where he lived at the grape plantation of his uncle Louis Gr
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OF PAUL MASSON INTEREST —
Balzer, Robert (1912–2011). This Uncommon Heritage. The Paul Masson Story. 1970. A well-illustrated history.
Book Club of California. The Vine in Early California. 1955. BCC Keepsake Series, 12 Folders. “No.2 Paul Masson.”
Marinacci, Barbara. “Vinaceous Correspondents: Martin Ray’s Friendships with Eminent Enophiles.” Wayward Tendrils Quarterly. 2003–2008 (v.13 #2 – v.18 #4). The compelling saga of legendary Martin Ray written by his step-daughter and co-author of Vineyards in the Sky. Online at WTQ website.
Marinacci, Barbara. “The ‘Grapes of Wrath’ and the Wrath of Grapes: The Friendship of John Steinbeck and Martin Ray.” Wayward Tendrils Quarterly. 2012 (v.22, #1-2). Online at WTQ website.
Ray, Eleanor and Marinacci, Barbara. Vineyards in the Sky. The Life of Legendary Vintner Martin Ray. 1993.
Reeve, Lloyd and Alice. Gift of the Grape. Based on Paul Masson Vineyards. 1959. Photographs by Ansel Adams and Pirkle Jones. Library of Western Industry.
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History
Paul Masson and Martin Ray
Paul Masson, who grew up in Burgundy, set out for California in 1878 at the age of 19. He stayed for several years in northern California, settling in the Santa Clara Valley until his money ran out. Returning home and finishing college at the Sorbonne, he begged his parents to let him return to California to seek his fortune as a winemaker. This was a big step for a young man from rural France and a reflection on an adventurous time in the world; a time of reinvention when the vines of his beloved Burgundy were dying from the root louse phylloxera.
His karma was indeed blessed, for soon after arriving in San Jose, he reconnected with Charles LeFranc, the owner of the Almaden Vineyard and Wine Company, and became his winemaker and son-in-law. Misfortune happened, however, two months after his marriage to Louise LeFranc when Charles was fatally injured in a horse and buggy accident, and Paul was thrust into an ownership role of Almaden. As the 1890s progressed, Paul became less motivated by being a principal of Almaden and dreame
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