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Unexpected Characters in Wine History WineEast Thomas Pinney's most recent book includes engaging portraits of 13 industry personalities By Hudson Cattell "T he Makers of American Wine: A Record of Two Hundred Years" is Thomas Pinney's third con- tribution to the history of wine in the United States. Unlike his definitive two-volume "A History of Wine in America," which presents the history in a traditional manner, Pinney's latest book tells the story of the past 200 years through the lives and contributions of 13 people who either played a significant role in creating the U.S. wine industry or helped it move in a new direction. By devoting a chapter to each person he had the opportunity to give a longer and more rounded portrait of the individual—and to do so in a highly readable manner. In an era when it is fashionable to make lists of people or events and rank them in order, Pinney makes it clear from the outset that the people he has chosen to profile are not part of a "most important people" list. While Nicholas Longworth, Robert Mondavi and Ernest and Julio Gallo (who count as one person on his list of 13) are well known and would be obvious choices to make many people's lists, there are others whose names will be unfamiliar to many readers. For example, Charles Kohler and Percy T. Morgan of the Italians who played a dominant role in the growth of the American wine industry after Prohibition; Cathy Corison, proprietor and winemaker at Corison Winery, was chosen to represent the increasing importance of women in the industry. were both important to the business side of California wine in the 19th century. Others on the list were chosen because they brought something new to the American wine scene: Andrea Sbarboro, an Italian immigrant who helped bring Italian Swiss Colony Wines into prominence in the 1880s, was a forerunner Carolina Wine Supply The Southeast's Most Complete Winery Supply Company Stocking Distributor for Nomacorc - Synthetic Closures Hanna Instruments - Testing Equipment In Stock - Natural Corks and Capsules Cartridge Filters and Filter Pads www.CarolinaWineSupply.com 336-677-6831 Yadkinville, NC e-mail: info@chemdet.com • www.chemdet.com Chemdet, Inc • 730 D Commerce Center Drive Sebastian, FL 32958 Toll-Free 800-645-1510 • Tel: 772-388-2755 Fax: 772-388-8813 WINES & VINES NOVEMBER 2012 103 The early history of wine in the United States begins with the many unsuccessful attempts at winegrowing along the eastern seaboard in the 17th and 18th centuries. Not enough information is known about most of the individuals who tried to grow grapes to warrant a chapter, and Pinney decided to use John James Dufour, who founded the Kentucky Vineyard Society at the end of the 18th century, as a representative of the early days. Dufour would largely be forgotten today if it were not for his book, "The American Vine-Dresser's Guide." Pinney points out, however, that while Dufour did not make the first commercial wine in this country, he made it possible for others to do so. And, as Pinney states in his introduction, one of his purposes in writing the book was to give recognition to some of the overlooked makers of the industry who are deserving of it. TANK CLEANING EQUIPMENT Chemdet has over 40 years experience supplying a full line of quality equipment to clean the interiors of open or closed, large or small containers, tanks & process vessels. • Portable Tank Washers • Clean-in-Place Tank Washers • Drum and Barrel Washers • High Impact Tank Washers • Fixed and Rotating Spray Balls