Tchelistcheff, Dorothy and André. Papers.

Collection Number: D-654

Scrapbooks, photograph albums, clippings, awards, memorabilia, and papers curated by Dorothy Tchelistcheff, wife of André Tchelistcheff. The collection documents winemaker André Tchelistcheff's life and work from 1967-1994, especially his work with Beaulieu Vineyards, and memorial events in his honor from 1994 to 2001. Winemaker André Tchelistcheff (1901-1994), known as "the dean of wine" and "the Maestro", studied agriculture in Czechoslovakia at the University of Brno and later studied viticulture and enology at the Pasteur Institute and the Institut National Agronomique in Paris. He came to California in 1938 at the invitation of Georges de Latour, owner of Beaulieu Vineyard, who was seeking a winemaker who could bring European methods to his winery. During his time at Beaulieu, Tchelistcheff introduced the now standard practices of fermenting white wines in a cold room and using malolactic fermentation as an essential part of making red wines. Tchelistcheff remained at Beaulieu until his retirement in 1973, after which he worked as a consulting enologist for many winemakers and wineries, including Robert Mondavi, Louis M. Martini, Franciscan Vineyards, Firestone, Jordan, and Buena Vista in California, and Chateau Ste. Michelle in Washington. Following retirement, Tchelistcheff also conducted a series of tours for winemakers through Wine Tours International, the first of which coincided with the famous 1976 Paris Tasting. In 1991, Tchelistcheff returned to Beaulieu as a consultant and worked there until his death in 1994.

Finding Aid

Finding Aid on the Online Archive of California

Inclusive Dates

1967-1994

Extent

5 linear feet

Subject

Viticulture and Enology