Germain-Robin
Germain-Robin, based in Ukiah, California, is a maker of brandy.
History
The distillery was founded in 1982 by Ansley J. Coale, a local rancher, and Hubert Germain-Robin, a native of Cognac, France.[1]
Coale, a former Berkeley professor of ancient history,[2] had bought 2,000 acres (809 ha) of farmland outside of Ukiah, named Eagle Ridge Ranch, in 1973. By chance, one day in 1981 he picked up Germain-Robin, who was hitchhiking throughout California in search of a location to make brandy.[3] Germain-Robin came from a family that had been making cognac under the name Jules Robin & Company, but had recently sold the business to Martell, prompting Germain-Robin to leave.[2]
Ronald Reagan was an aficionado of Germain-Robin brandies and reserved a number of barrels for the White House, which he served as a matter of national pride to visiting dignitaries such as Mikhail Gorbachev and François Mitterrand. The brandy was also served at Bill Clinton's inaugural ball[4]
One innovation is that in Cognac, brandy is made mostly of the Ugni blanc grape (known in Italy as Trebbiano), which in the region makes a juice unsuitable for drinking as a wine. By contrast Germain-Robin used, and continues to use, high-quality wine grapes.[3] Initially it used locally produced Pinot noir, and it continues to use exclusively Mendocino County grapes, generally Colombard and Semillon, as well as some Zinfandel and Viognier.[4] Another innovation is that rather than blending the wine, Germain-Robin produces single-varietal and single-vineyard brandies.[4]
In 2006 Germain-Robin left the company that bears his name to become an independent consultant[5]
Products
Germain-Robin brandy, which is called by some the best in the world, is produced in very small quantities, 3,000 cases per year as of 2005.[4] Sales are low due to poor name recognition, high price of up to $350 per bottle, and the tendency of restaurant patrons to buy well-known mass-market brands from France.[4]
Particularly in recent years, the distillery has been experimenting with grappa, eau de vie, liqueur, and other liquors.
Coale is also a participant in Hangar One Vodka, an artisan vodka made in Alameda, California by St. George Spirits.[4]
References
- ^ Matt Villano (2008-11-30). "Exquisite brandy one of Ukiah area's delights". San Francisco Chronicle.
- ^ a b Frank J. Prial (1994-08-03). "Wine Talk". New York Times.
- ^ a b Frank J. Prial (1988-09-04). "Wine: A Choice Encounter". New York Times.
- ^ a b c d e f W. Blake Gray (2005-01-27). "Over a barrel: Germain-Robin makes superb brandies, yet they're hard to sell". San Francisco Chronicle.
- ^ K.C. Meadows (2012-06-15). "Spirit moves him: Germain-Robin writes a book". Ukiah Daily Journal.
External links
- germain-robin.com - official site