Newsletter Archives > Wine/Winemaking
From an historical perspective, it was of great interest a couple years back when I discovered imbedded in a family legend my genetic connection to wine. On my Philadelphia-born mother's side several generations back, between 1750 and 60, four brothers came to the colonies from Alsace. As a book on the DeHavens tells, "The DeHavens were very well-to-do for those days. They originally made money in vine culture (vineyards) in France before coming to America."
Once
here, the brothers embraced the colonies' battle for freedom from England.
Jacob, who had thrived in Pennsylvania, responded to a plea from George
Washington and the Continental Army, freezing and destitute in Valley
Forge in 1777, by loaning $450,000 in gold, his entire fortune.
He was never repaid, even though the 4% interest keeps ticking, amounting to a great calculator exercise for family members (my spreadsheet says $2 billion, 720 million). There have been attempts in the Congress to make repayment, but the staggering sum it has grown to, even in the mid 1800s, has kept even thank-yous in the A/P stack.
The DeHaven fortune keeps building, but the greatest heritage I see is the Alsace grapegrowing. Perhaps Jacob is urging us to do the Vendange Tardive Pinot Gris in 1999!
Home | About Us | Privacy Policy | Our Wine | Buy Wine | Contact Us | For the Trade
© CHEHALEM
31190 NE Veritas Lane • Newberg, OR 97132
Phone (503) 538-4700 • Fax (503) 537-0850
