posted on May 4, 2016 by Jan Moran

A Prescription for Wine? Really? Yes, in 1920.

by Jan Moran

The Winemakers by Jan MoranFancy a glass of wine with dinner? In 1920, you’d have to have a doctor’s prescription for that elegant indulgence. In the US, the National Prohibition Act was in force from 1920 to 1933.

During my research visit to Napa Valley for The Winemakers, I heard some amazing stories about how winery owners survived Prohibition. Some entrepreneurial vintners secured contracts to supply sacramental wine to religious orders, while others produced wine for medicinal purpose. Still others produced grapes and sold those to families to make wine at home in small quantities, which was legal.

Doctor’s Orders

Not surprisingly, it’s said that quite a few people either found religion or became ill during this time. Wine was often prescribed for heart disease, anemia, high blood pressure, tuberculosis, pneumonia, and even old age.

Some physicians believed wine aided digestion and increased energy levels. The usual dose was one-ounce every two to three hours for adults; for children, the dose was halved.

All in the Name of Research

wine-prescription-form-usIn order to capture the flavor of Napa and the wine-making industry for The Winemakers, I cruised up the coast of California and made the rounds in Napa Valley. I stopped in the Stags Leap district, then wound up to Mount Veeder, Mount Howell, and St. Helena, reveling in the scenic rows of vineyards that surrounded me.

High on a mountain top I visited with old school friends MaryAnn and Larry Tsai, co-founders of the highly collected Moone-Tsai wines, which are blended by Philippe Melka from France. A true artist, he is ranked in the top ten winemakers world-wide.

MaryAnn Tsai on left and Jan Moran on rightLater, I had the pleasure of meeting and talking with one of the industry’s legends, Mike Grgich, Grgich Hills co-founder. After we spoke at length, he invited me to a beautiful winemaker’s dinner at the Meritage Resort to celebrate his ninetieth birthday. In 1976, Mike was awarded top honors for his Chateau Montelena Chardonnay at the Paris Tasting, which was quite an extraordinary feat for a California vintner. (Pour a glass and watch the movie Bottle Shock.) This also served as inspiration for The Winemakers.

Throughout the next week, I had incredible visits at the Hess Collection, Grgich Hills, Chimney Rock, and Caldwell Vineyards, among others, and heard quite a few fascinating stories at each stop.

The Roaring Twenties

During my visit to Napa, one vintner recalled a Prohibition-era story about a milk truck that made regular stops at vineyards, then delivered it’s ‘milk’ to select clients in San Francisco.

Indeed, the Roaring Twenties kept on roaring. In fact, when I lived in Beverly Hills, it was common to find homes in the area with basements that had once been private speak-easies.

Cheers!

So tonight, when you pour that glass of wine, raise your glass to those vintners and entrepreneurs who carried on the industry. And I hope you enjoy reading The Winemakers.

The Winemakers can be purchased in trade paperback and/or eBook format for/from:

 

jan-moran-641x1024Hello, new friends! I’m Jan, and I write sweeping 20th century historical novels with strong, stylish, resilient heroines set in 1920s to 1950s in places such as Paris and Tuscany (The Winemakers and Scent of Triumph). I also write a fun contemporary series called Love, California about four best friends; it’s like Sex and the City on the west coast, with smart women, great clothes, and travel to Spain, Ireland, and France.

A few of my favorite things include a good cup of coffee, dark chocolate, traveling anywhere, and a warm sunny beach. I’m originally from Austin, Texas, and a trace of a drawl still survives to this day, although I have lived in Southern California with my family for years. I’m passionate about ideas, writing, and entrepreneurship, which is why my creative-at-heart characters always seem to be starting or running their own business. History fascinates me, as does the perfect cheesecake. I love to hear from readers, and welcome your comments. You can often find me on social media (when I really ought to be writing). Try looking on Twitter @janmoran, or come say hello on my blog, which you can find on www.janmoran.com. Cheers, and happy reading!

Jan Moran

Jan Moran

Jan Moran is a USA Today bestselling author of heartwarming fiction, including the feel-good, contemporary beach series of Summer Beach, Coral Cottage, and Love California. Her riveting, immersive historical family sagas include Hepburn's Necklace, The Chocolatier, The Winemakers, and The Perfumer. St. Martin's Press, Goldmann/Penguin Random, and Newton Compton have published her novels, along with her imprint, Sunny Palms Press. Jan's books are also available in large print and audiobook editions. Her work is translated into German, Italian, Dutch, Russian, Portuguese, Turkish, Lithuanian, Polish, Bulgarian, and other languages. At present, Jan is working on the next books in her series, adapting The Winemakers for a dramatic television series, expanding her catalog of books and screenplays, and forming partnerships for film and television projects. She has been featured in numerous publications and on television and radio, including CNN, Women's Wear Daily, Allure, InStyle, and O Magazine. As an editor and writer, she has covered fragrance, beauty, and spa travel for various publications from Cosmopolitan to the Costco Connection. Jan is a graduate of the Harvard Business School and the University of Texas at Austin. As an entrepreneur and former CEO and board member, she speaks on entrepreneurship, the business of writing, women in business, and other topics. In her former life, Jan was the founder and creator of Scentsa, a touch-screen software program for retailers and brands. The fragrance and skincare programs (FragranceIQ, SkinIQ) are at Sephora stores in the US, Canada, France, Mexico, Brazil, and Denmark. The Scentsa program was sold to Sephora. As a speaker, consultant, and major brand/retailer spokesperson, Jan has spoken before numerous groups such as libraries, the San Diego State University Writer's Conference, Fashion Group International, The Fragrance Foundation, and The American Society of Perfumers. She has represented brands and retailers in media for several major PR companies, including Edelman and DeVries. Jan lives in San Diego County and is available for select in-person or online consulting, training, and speaking engagements.

https://www.janmoran.com

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Latest from our Blog

Mahoney & Squire – Military Women’s Fiction – Meet The Characters

Have you met the men and women of Mahoney & Squire, my high-stakes, high-octane military action adventure series? Let me introduce you! Captain Kathryn “Kate” Mahoney, USN Call Sign “Scarlett” Ambitious, strong-willed, patriotic, and assertive, Kate Mahoney is often derided as a “bitch” by the old school naval aviation community. She struggled through dysfunctional relationships,… Read More

Read More