Korbel Champagne Cellars

History

Korbel was founded in 1882 by three Czech brothers named Korbel. It was purchased by Adolf Heck in 1954. Heck's son, Gary, took over in 1982, and over time increased production from 150,000 to 1.6 million cases per year, making Korbel the 16th largest wine producer in the United States as of 2022.

The popular origin story of the brandy old fashioned (an old fashioned made with brandy instead of whiskey, popular in Wisconsin) goes that during the Chicago World's Fair in 1893, the Korbel brothers were offering samples of their wine and brandy. Central European immigrants from Milwaukee took a liking to the Bohemian Korbel brothers' brandy, and brought it back to Wisconsin and began using it in cocktails. This story is probably false, however, and the more likely origin is due to the availability of brandy during post-WWII liquor shortages.

Use of "champagne" on labels

Korbel has followed regulations regarding use of the word “champagne” on wines made in and marketed in the United States, specifically regulations established by the U.S. Department of Treasury in the 1930s. These regulations allow U.S. producers to use names of geographical significance that also designate a class or type of wine. Such names – like champagne, sherry and port – are called semi-generics, and may be used on labels only in direct conjunction with an appropriate appellation of origin (place in the United States where the grapes were grown) and only on wines that conform to the standard of identity for that class or type. In 2006, all 27 EU-member countries, including France, signed the Bilateral U.S.-EC Trade Agreement on Wine reaffirming this right. This Agreement takes the laws of all involved nations into account, halts the development and use of new brands with semi-generic terms by U.S. wineries, while protecting U.S. producers – such as Korbel – who have made substantial long-term investments in trademarks, brand names and marketing of their products.

Popularity

Korbel California sparkling wines have been served at 10 United States presidential inaugurations.

Korbel's brandy has a particularly strong following in the state of Wisconsin, where over 50% of Korbel's brandy production is consumed.

References

References

1. "Brown-Forman Annual Report 2008"
2. Kevin Fagan. (2009-08-30). "Family squabble tarnishes Korbel wine empire". San Francisco Chronicle.
3. Maxwell, Amiee. (2021-01-28). "How Wisconsin Became the Center of the ‘Brandy Belt'".
4. [https://www.korbel.com/FamilyOfChampagnes.aspx Our Champagnes]{{Dead link. (March 2023)
5. "26 USC 5388© Designation of Wines".
6. "U.S./EC Wine Agreement".
7. Hulse, Carl. (20 January 2009). "The Nation Awaits Its 44th President". [[New York Times]].
8. Snyder, Molly. (6 March 2020). "Cheers! Wisconsinites are the top consumers of brandy in the U.S.". On Milwaukee.