When the rivers ran red : an amazing story of courage and triumph in America's wine country

When Prohibition took effect in 1920, only a few months after one of the greatest California grape harvests of all time, violence and chaos descended on Northern California. Federal agents spilled thousands of gallons of wine in the rivers and creeks, gun battles erupted on dark country roads, and local law enforcement officers—sympathetic to their winemaking neighbors—found ways to stonewall the intruding authorities. For the state's winemaking families—many of them immigrants from Italy—surviving Prohibition meant facing a crucial decision—give up their idyllic way of life, or break the law to enable their livelihood to survive. Sosnowski’s intimate history provides us with a new view into Prohibition America, away from the flappers and speakeasys of Chicago and New York, and into the lovely hills and valleys of wine country, where families hid vintages and prayed for the days when they could resume the craft that they loved. When the Rivers Ran Red tells of the extraordinary adventures of the stalwart efforts of immigrant families—the Seghesios, the Foppianos, the Nichelinis and the Cuneos—who saved one of America’s most beloved traditions. Today, Millions Of People Around The World Enjoy California's Legendary Wines, Unaware That 90 Years Ago The Families Who Made These Wines--and In Many Cases Still Do {u2013} Turned To Struggle And Subterfuge To Save The Industry We Now Cherish. When Prohibition Took Effect In 1919, Three Months After One Of The Greatest California Grape Harvests Of All Time, Violence And Chaos Descended On Northern California. Federal Agents Spilled Thousands Of Gallons Of Wine In The Rivers And Creeks, Gun Battles Erupted On Dark Country Roads, And Local Law Enforcement Officers, Sympathetic To Their Winemaking Neighbors, Found Ways To Run Circles Around The Intruding Authorities. For The State's Winemaking Families--many Of Them Immigrants From Italy--surviving Prohibition Meant Facing Impossible Decisions, Whether To Give Up The Idyllic Way Of Life Their Families Had Known For Generations, Or Break The Law To Enable Their Wine Businesses And Their Livelihood To Survive. Including Moments Of Both Desperation And Joy, Sosnowski Tells The Inspiring Story Of How Ordinary People Fought To Protect To A Beautiful And Timeless Culture In The Lovely Hills And Valleys Of Now-celebrated Wine Country. The Land Was Sacred To These Families -- No Nation Is Drunken Where Wine Is Cheap -- These Vines Are Like Members Of My Family -- It Was A Clamoring Mob -- To Hell With Prohibition -- If We Hadn't Bootlegged, We Wouldn't Have Survived -- Almost As Ubiquitous As The Radiance Of The Moon Itself -- A Million Dollars To Go Away To France -- The Reign Of The Bludgeon And Of Force -- The Worst And Most Cruel Experiences. Vivienne Sosnowski. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [217]-220) And Index.

Today, millions of people around the world enjoy California's legendary wines, unaware that 90 years ago the families who made these wines--and in many cases still do – turned to struggle and subterfuge to save the industry we now cherish. When Prohibition took effect in 1919, three months after one of the greatest California grape harvests of all time, violence and chaos descended on Northern California. Federal agents spilled thousands of gallons of wine in the rivers and creeks, gun battles erupted on dark country roads, and local law enforcement officers, sympathetic to their winemaking neighbors, found ways to run circles around the intruding authorities. For the state's winemaking families--many of them immigrants from Italy--surviving Prohibition meant facing impossible decisions, whether to give up the idyllic way of life their families had known for generations, or break the law to enable their wine businesses and their livelihood to survive. Including moments of both desperation and joy, Sosnowski tells the inspiring story of how ordinary people fought to protect to a beautiful and timeless culture in the lovely hills and valleys of now-celebrated wine country.

The land was sacred to these families No nation is drunken where the wine is cheap These vines are like members of my family It was a clamoring mob To hell with Prohibition If we hadn't bootlegged, we wouldn't have survived Moonshine is almost as ubiquitous as the radiance from the Moon itself We never wore shoes in summer, or, A million dollars to go away to France The reign of bludgeon and of force The worst and most cruel experiences to which a thrifty and prosperous rural community was ever subject. A history of the role of Italian immigrants in America's thriving wine industry traces the violent upheavals in prohibition-era California, where winemaking families struggled to protect the industry and safeguard themselves from poverty.