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Author: Libbie Agran

LEGEND of Norman Goss, Founder of Chamisal Vineyard

Norman Goss was a “renaissance man ”; he had several remarkable talents, passions, an extensive knowledge of international wine regions, and built multiple careers that spanned most of the twentieth century. He traveled the world, and explored cultures and their cuisines, wines, music, and arts. He was a Californian, born in Los Angeles, who traveled to Europe in the “Grand Tour” fashion with his parents as a child; he was raised in Pasadena, which also became his home for a number of years in adulthood.

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The Heritage Mission Grape Vineyard Projects Update | April 2022

After two suspenseful years, retired viticulturist Jim Efird and WHP Director Libbie Agran, were reunited with 28 vibrant Mission Grape Vines on the morning of April 7th. We are grateful to Dr. Jean C. Dodson Peterson, Associate Professor of Viticulture at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and the Wonderful Nurseries in Wasco, California, for working with us to establish these vines on their own rootstock.

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Julia Child – America’s First Celebrity Chef

This season I am enjoying the series Julia that explores the second half of her life, defined by the moment when Julia Child enrolled in the Le Cordon Bleu Cooking School in Paris to learn to savor and prepare French cuisine. The year was 1948. She met two women who became dear friends, Simone Beck and Louisette Bertholle, in her studies. The friendships changed American cuisine and history when the three women opened their own cooking school, L’Ecole des Trois Gourmandes. Their teaching style and collaboration led to their famous cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking which was published in 1961.

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