Beaulieu Vineyard donates historic archives to UC Davis Library

More than 60,000 pieces of archival material, including photographs, ledger books and other media make up a new library collection established in the name of Beaulieu Vineyard, or BV, at the University of California, Davis.

As part of the UC Davis Library’s world-class wine collections, the Beaulieu Vineyard Records will help researchers, students, wine writers and historians better understand the impact of BV, its founders Georges and Fernande de Latour, and famed enologist André Tchelistcheff on Napa Valley and the American wine industry. 

The library is digitizing portions of the collection selected for historical and research value, enabling scholars and wine enthusiasts from around the world to explore the vineyard’s rich history online. 

The library also plans to display items from the collection in Shields Library on campus from April 1 to Sept. 15. The exhibition, along with a companion exhibit on the library’s website, will provide a unique opportunity to engage with historical records that tell the story of one of the longest continuously operating wineries in Napa Valley. 

“We are honored to partner with the UC Davis Library in preserving the 125-year legacy of Beaulieu Vineyard,” said Carl Evans, senior vice president of direct to consumer at Treasury Wine Estates, the parent company. “This donation reflects our ongoing commitment to not only sharing our rich history, but also celebrating the broader history of American wine. We believe this archival collection will both inspire and educate future generations, fostering a greater appreciation for the winemaking legends that have shaped our industry.”

Evans said the winery selected the UC Davis Library as the home for BV’s archive because of the library’s outstanding reputation and the deep-rooted history between the winery and the university. Maynard Amerine, a founding member of UC Davis’ Department of Viticulture and Enology in the 1930s, consulted with BV winemakers, including Tchelistcheff, in the post-Prohibition era. In the 1980s, BV partnered with UC Davis on a series of trials to determine which Cabernet Sauvignon clones were best suited to BV’s vineyards. 

In the library’s expansive food and wine collections — widely acknowledged as the greatest wine library in the world — the Beaulieu Vineyard Records take their place alongside those of Tchelistcheff, Amerine and other influential leaders and institutions in California’s wine industry.

“Beaulieu Vineyard has been a pillar of Napa Valley for generations, and we are proud that the winery has entrusted their archive to us,” said William Garrity, university librarian and vice provost of digital scholarship. “BV’s story is deeply intertwined with other collections under our stewardship. Both our library and the winery’s heritage will be enriched by this partnership.” 

Gathering history for future generations

Working with a professional historian and archivist, BV completed a yearlong inventory of its historical collection of physical and printed materials in 2022. Of the 204 boxes of archival material, the winery kept nine and gifted the rest to the library. Library staff have spent the past year cataloging and digitizing materials for public access. 

“Corporate records are the legacy of an industry,” said Audrey Russek, curator of the library’s food and wine collections. “BV has been a visionary industry leader since its founding, from importing Phylloxera-resistant grape vines to navigating Prohibition by producing altar wines. These watershed moments are fundamental for understanding the history of California wine, and they provide a roadmap for industry innovation in the face of new challenges and emerging industry trends.” 

The archive gifted to the library includes: 

• Original letters from Georges de Latour written between 1902 and 1915
• Board of directors minutes from 1923-1967
• Articles, photographs and documents about prominent employees at BV including André Tchelistcheff, Legh Knowles, Joseph Ponti, and Lorenzo and Aldo Fabbrini
• Historical background on vineyards and wines, including correspondence about altar wines made during Prohibition
• Advertising and promotional materials from the 1940s through the early 2000s 
• Architectural records
• Photographs of the winery, vineyards, winemaking, events, employees and celebrities at the winery

Explore the Beaulieu Vineyard Digital Collection or request access to original materials from the archive through the library’s Archives and Special Collections. 

New home for BV’s next chapter

As pieces of the winery’s history find a new home at the UC Davis Library, BV has also broken ground on a multimillion-dollar renovation of its Napa property with an aim to bring BV’s history to life for future visitors. The renovation, which is set to be completed in 2026, will honor the winery’s pioneering past by incorporating pieces from its archive — including Georges de Latour’s original 1925 Cadillac Imperial Touring Car — throughout the new spaces. 

About Beaulieu Vineyard

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Beaulieu Vineyard was established in Rutherford, Napa Valley, in 1900. BV wine is considered a highly collectible classic and has set a world-class standard for California Cabernet Sauvignon. Known for its legacy of innovation driven by the contributions of such luminaries as founders Georges and Fernande de Latour and enologist André Tchelistcheff, the winery has maintained its cultural relevance for 125 years. Follow @bvwines on Instagram.