We give Charles Krug Winery stars: Yelp | Trip Advisor

The Peter Mondavi Family is forging ahead with another great renaissance of Napa Valley's first winery by guiding qualitative improvements that will serve future generations of the Family and its supporters. They are accomplishing this by ushering in a new era at Charles Krug Winery without losing sight of the winery's history.

Founded in 1861 by Charles Krug, the 27-year old Prussian immigrant came to America with little besides willpower and a willingness to work hard to build the cornerstone of the first winery in the Napa Valley. He became the major local winery figure of his era, greatly influencing Napa Valley's development as a world-renown wine producing region.

His leadership was said to be inspirational, and his ideas innovative. Charles Krug introduced the cider press for winemaking, the first of which is still on display at the winery. He carefully selected rootstocks, varietals and vineyard sites - a novel concept in late 19th Century America. The knowledge he gained and shared benefited the young California wine industry.