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About Us Family History Timeline

Timeline Wagner Family Timeline 1906 -Carl Wagner, an immigrant from Alsace, purchases farmland in Rutherford in the Napa Valley

1912 - Carl’s son Charles F. (Charlie) Wagner is born on the family farm 1915 -The Wagner family builds a winery to produce bulk wines. Their output will grow to 30,000 gallons per year before Prohibition came into effect in 1919, closing down their prosperous wine business

1934 -Charlie Wagner marries his high school sweetheart, Lorna Belle Glos, whose Glos and Stice ancestors also have a long family history of viticulture and winemaking in the Napa Valley that dates back to 1858

1941 -Charlie Wagner and his wife, Lorna purchase 73 acres near the family farm in Rutherford, where they planted fruit orchards and wine grapes

1960s -Charlie Wagner pulls out the fruit orchards to plant , Johannisberg Riesling and a clone of acquired from Stags Leap grower Nathan Fay 1972 -Charlie, Lorna and their son, Chuck Wagner, establish Caymus Vineyards. The name is inspired by the area’s history, named after a 19th century Mexican land grant called “Rancho Caymus”

1975 - Caymus introduces “Special Selection” Cabernet Sauvignon

1984 - Chuck Wagner becomes director of all viticulture and winemaking

1988 -Jon Bolta was named Conundrum winemaker and he begun to craft the style for the non-traditional white wine blend that would first be released the following year in 1989 -The Wagners planted their first vines in the Santa Lucia Highlands

1989 -1984 Caymus Special Selection Cabernet is named “Wine of the Year” by Wine Spectator magazine, earning this honor over 6,000 other wines tasted 1994 -1990 Caymus Special Selection Cabernet is named “Wine of the Year” by Wine Spectator. Special Selection remains to this day the only wine to be twice selected for this honor

1997 -Caymus is named “Best Winery for Cabernet Sauvignon or Cabernet Blend in California” in Wine Spectator’s Readers’ Choice Awards. Caymus Cabernet also earned its sixth spot on the Wine Spectator’s top-ten list in nine years

2001 -Charlie Sr. and Chuck Wagner are elected to the Wine Spectator “Hall of Fame” -Chuck’s son, Charlie Wagner, took control of Mer Soleil viticulture and winemaking in the Santa Lucia Highlands -Belle Glos wine label was created and named in honor of Lorna Belle Glos Wagner

2002 -Charlie Wagner passes away in Rutherford in his 90th year -Joseph Wagner makes the first Belle Glos vineyard-designated wines from Taylor Lane and Clark & Telephone vineyards

2005 -Charlie Wagner launches the first vintage of Mer Soleil SILVER Unoaked Chardonnay using cement tanks 2007 -Chuck Wagner receives the “Distinguished Service Award” from Wine Spectator for achievements in winemaking and dedication to the Napa Valley and its wines

2012 -2010 Belle Glos Clark & Telephone Pinot Noir made Wine Spectator's Top 100 wines of 2012 list -40th vintage of Caymus Cabernet is bottled

2013 -Chuck’s daughter Jenny Wagner recently joined the family business and took over making Emmolo and Merlot in Napa Valley, which was first introduced by her mother, Cheryl Emmolo, in 1994 -Lorna Belle Glos Wagner passes away at the age of 98