Peter Newton, at 81; founded vineyards in Napa Valley
LOS ANGELES - Peter Newton, a pioneer in the California wine industry who founded Sterling Vineyards and Newton Vineyard in Napa Valley, died Feb. 4 at his home in St. Helena, Calif.. He was 81.
The cause was complications from a heart condition, his daughter, Carol Boone, said.
Mr. Newton became interested in the wine business after buying a weekend home in Napa in the 1960s. He and a partner established Sterling Vineyards in Calistoga and released the first vintage in 1969. At the time there were about 25 wineries in the area. There are about 325 now.
"Peter Newton was at the forefront of the California wine industry," wine merchant Paul Smith of Woodland Hills Wine Co, said. "He was very intelligent; he knew what he wanted and had a great vision."
At Sterling, Mr. Newton created a compelling setting with an aerial tram, bell tower, and architecture inspired by an Aegean monastery. "It was one of the most unusual concepts for a winery," Steve Wallace of Wally's Wines and Spirits in Los Angeles said.
Mr. Newton hired winemaker Ric Forman, then 25, and sent him to France to study French winemaking techniques.
"Peter trusted me," said Forman, who owns Forman Vineyard in St. Helena. "He was one of the most powerful mentors I've ever had."
Sterling soon had a reputation for top-quality cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, and sauvignon blanc, with cabernet aged in small wooden barrels and chardonnay fermented in the barrel.
"Sterling became known for an innovative, almost flamboyant style," Forman said.
Sterling also produced one of the first merlots from the Napa Valley.
Mr. Newton sold Sterling in 1977. He then established Newton Vineyard in St. Helena. It now has 120 acres of planted vineyards.
" The Newton label became known for quality chardonnay and merlot. "The unfiltered chardonnay is world class," Wallace said.
The grounds of the winery were distinct. Mr. Newton designed extensive gardens, including one in the Japanese manner, that attracted horticulturists from Europe and the United States.
Mr. Newton had enjoyed high-quality wines long before he ventured into wine making. Born in London, he graduated from Oxford with a law degree. By his senior year he had developed a taste for Bordeaux wines and helped select the wine for the university's cellar.
He served in the British Army Rifle Corps during World War II and came to California as a correspondent for the London Financial Times.
