History
Markham Vineyards was founded by Jean Laurent, an immigrant from the Bordeaux region of France, who arrived in California in 1852 as part of the population influx that resulted from the California Gold Rush. Recognizing that suitability of the Napa Valley land for winemaking, he founded his winemaking operation in 1874. Laurent and his vineyards rose to prominence during the 1880s, when wines produced in California began distribution to major population centers on the United States’ East Coast.
Jean Laurent died in 1890, after which his winery continued to operate successfully under a succession of owners until 1978. That year, vintner Bruce Markham purchased Laurent’s winery and – combining it with vineyards in nearby Yountville, Oak Knoll and Calistoga, California – founded Markham Vineyards. Markham’s purchase drove annual production of the Laurent vineyard from 3,500 cases to roughly 20,000 cases over the following decade.
In 1988, the former Laurent Winery was sold to Japanese wine and spirits producer Mercian Corporation, who commenced a four-year, multi-million dollar renovation, expansion and vineyard replanting program on the Markham properties. These efforts more than doubled the capacity of Markham Vineyards.
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