Fritz Maytag Beard Award Nominee

Slated to receive a 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award come June is Fritz Maytag, owner of Spring Mountain’s York Creek Vineyards, where he grows more than a dozen varietals and last year celebrated his 39th harvest.

In 1965, Maytag acquired San Francisco’s Anchor Brewing Company, becoming a pioneer of American microbrewing. Since then, he has not only preserved the traditions of Anchor Steam beer production but also made it a national brand. In 1993, Maytag launched the Anchor Distilling Company whose Old Potrero Rye Whiskey and Junipero Gin quickly became models for a burgeoning artisanal distilling movement in this country. On top of that, since the 1960s Maytag has been in charge of his family’s Maytag Dairy Farms in Iowa. Produced since 1941, Maytag Blue Cheese was created by Fritz’s father.

Tuesday, April 01, 2008

By L. PIERCE CARSON
Napa Valley Register

http://www.napavalleyregister.com/articles/2008/04/01/food/doc47f16b61dc735223100859.txt