For the Olympic competitor, see Paul Masson (cycling). Paul Masson (1874 – 1945) was a French cyclist. ...

Paul Masson (1859-1940) was an early pioneer of California viticulture and the most successful popularizer of Californian sparkling wine. He emigrated from the Burgundy region of France in 1878 to California, "where he met Charles Lefranc, one of a number of French immigrants who had expanded the viticulture introduced into the Santa Clara Valley by the Catholic mission fathers." He went back to France in 1880 but returned to California due to the depression in the French wine industry caused by the Phylloxera plague. wine grapes Viticulture (from the Latin word for vine) refers to the cultivation of grapes, often for use in the production of wine. ... Coat of arms of the 2nd duchy of Burgundy and later of the French province of Burgundy Burgundy (French: Bourgogne) is a historic region of France, inhabited in turn by Pre-Indo-European people, Celts (Gauls), Romans (Gallo-Romans), and various Germanic tribes, most importantly the Burgundians and the Franks. ... wine grapes Viticulture (from the Latin word for vine) refers to the cultivation of grapes, often for use in the production of wine. ... The Santa Clara Valley is a valley just south of the San Francisco Bay in northern California in the United States. ... Grape Phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae, family Phylloxeridae, superfamily Aphidoidea) is a serious pest of commercial grapevines worldwide, originally native to eastern North America. ...

According to the Paul Masson company Web site, in 1892 Masson's first champagne was introduced at Almaden, and Masson eventually became known as the "Champagne King of California." His brand can be remembered popularly for its 1970s marketing association with Orson Welles, who promised for Masson, "We will sell no wine before its time." Orson Welles, photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1937 George Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985) is generally considered one of Hollywoods greatest directors, as well as a fine actor, broadcaster and screenwriter. ...

Masson shifted part of his production to the hills above Saratoga, CA, and built his "chateau" on a knob overlooking the valley in 1905. Paul Masson Mountain Winery is on the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places. Events are held at the winery, such as concert series, special events and weddings. The National Park Service (NPS) is the United States Federal Government agency that deals with all National Parks, many National Monuments, and other conservation properties with various designations. ... The National Register of Historic Places is the USAs official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects worthy of preservation. ...

The Paul Masson brand is now a division of the Canandaigua Wine Company, which is in turn owned by Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE: STZ and STZ.B)

Outside Links

• Paul Masson Mountain Winery

References

• Paul Masson Mountain Winery, National Park Service. Visited 28 December 2004.