Napa County Biographies

J. A. BRUN & CO.

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 
            This firm, which occupies a leading position among the wine-makers 
of Napa County, are the proprietors of the now well known Nouveau Medoc 
Vineyard.  Their vineyard and wine cellar is situated on Howell Mountain, where 
they take advantage of choice qualities of the mountain vintage.  They have a 
fine, large, stone wine cellar at the vineyard.  The depot and shipping 
warehouse of the company is situated at Oakville beside the railway, a switch 
being laid into the grounds, thus affording unusual facilities for shipping.  
The firm has built up a large trade, especially with New Orleans, whither a 
large part of their product goes every year, both red wines and white.  The 
warehouses are spacious, well arranged and have a large cooperage capacity.
            The individual members of the firm are Messrs. Jean Adolph Brun and 
Jean Chaix, both natives of �La Belle France.�  Mr. Brun, the head of the firm, 
was born July 25, 1845, and is the son of Jean and Jeanne Delphine (Delaveaux) 
Brun.  He resided in France until 1872, having had much experience in his native 
country in wine, cider and oil-making.  In the last named year he came to 
Montreal, Canada, where he remained fourteen months, being engaged in the 
manufacture of photographic materials.  He then went to England, and after a 
stay of thirty days in that country sailed for Australia.  Here he engaged in 
the same business and continued it for eight months.  In September, 1874, he 
came to California, and shortly afterward to Napa County, and began as a 
laborer, being engaged in several cellars as wine-maker.  In 1877 he formed a 
partnership with Mr. Chaix, and began the business of wine manufacture at 
Oakville.  He was married October 23, 1880, to Miss Emma Mermond, a native of 
San Francisco, born September 10, 1860.
 
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing 
Co., 1891, pp 497