The history of the Carbone family and their passion for wine began many years ago in the sunny vineyards of southern Italy in the province of Avellino. With vineyards in his family for several generations, patriarch Giovanni Carbone was recognized as a wine authority.
Unfortunately, when Giovanni came to the United States to market his wine, he was killed in a train accident. Under Italian law at the time, the estate of a person who dies without a will (as he did) went to the eldest son over the age of 21. Because Anthony, the oldest, was only 11, there was no one to inherit the vineyard so it reverted to the province of Avellino.
Unable to support him, Anthony's mother sent him to live with relatives in Boston. Anthony became a barber and later a real estate entrepreneur. When he and his family of five children moved to Denver he began A. Carbone & Company in 1903 and was importing wines from Italy. Colorado Prohibition began in 1916 which forced the operation to relocate to Cheyenne, WY. When National Prohibition started in 1920 the wine business officially ended, however they continued to import olive oil and cheese, and was manufacturing pasta in Denver. The remarkably thriving pasta business was called the Western Union Macaroni Company, which ended up selling in 1929 to the Denver Macaroni Company who was using the brand name American Beauty and later became the globally relevant household name of American Beauty Macaroni Company. Anthony died in 1930, leaving A. Carbone & Company company under the care of his sons, Giovanni (John), Arturo and Americo.
Unfortunately, when Giovanni came to the United States to market his wine, he was killed in a train accident. Under Italian law at the time, the estate of a person who dies without a will (as he did) went to the eldest son over the age of 21. Because Anthony, the oldest, was only 11, there was no one to inherit the vineyard so it reverted to the province of Avellino.
Unable to support him, Anthony's mother sent him to live with relatives in Boston. Anthony became a barber and later a real estate entrepreneur. When he and his family of five children moved to Denver he began A. Carbone & Company in 1903 and was importing wines from Italy. Colorado Prohibition began in 1916 which forced the operation to relocate to Cheyenne, WY. When National Prohibition started in 1920 the wine business officially ended, however they continued to import olive oil and cheese, and was manufacturing pasta in Denver. The remarkably thriving pasta business was called the Western Union Macaroni Company, which ended up selling in 1929 to the Denver Macaroni Company who was using the brand name American Beauty and later became the globally relevant household name of American Beauty Macaroni Company. Anthony died in 1930, leaving A. Carbone & Company company under the care of his sons, Giovanni (John), Arturo and Americo.
Immediately following the repeal of National Prohibition in 1933, John Carbone returned A. Carbone & Company to the business of wine and launched the first licensed and bonded winery in Colorado under the label CARBONE WINE. As president of the company, John’s vision was to bring a new industry to the mountain states through fermenting, aging, blending, bottling, and distributing wines in Colorado. As the grape growing regions of Colorado were not established yet, the company purchased bulk grapes and must from California and transported it via sterilized railway tank cars to the plant in Denver. The wine was fermented, blended, and stored in large redwood tanks until it was time to bottle.
In addition, the company became the largest liquor distributorship west of the Mississippi. Their warehouse—on Wazee Street across from The Maven Hotel in what is now LoDo—burned down in 1942 in Denver’s largest fire at that time. Exploding whiskey bottles made the fire a menace for firefighters to bring the blaze under control, and in total 80,000 gallons of wine were lost. At the time, it was the largest fire Denver had ever seen. The source of the fire remains unknown, however arson remains a likely scenario from competing interests. The company quickly rebuilt a new, more modern facility a few blocks north on 1100 Wazee. John Carbone's knowledge of wines and the wine industry placed him in a good position to build out a high volume operation which thrived for many years until the company leveraged its assets into Carbone Investment Company, which remained active under the leadership of John Anthony Carbone Jr in Denver well into the 21st century.
In addition, the company became the largest liquor distributorship west of the Mississippi. Their warehouse—on Wazee Street across from The Maven Hotel in what is now LoDo—burned down in 1942 in Denver’s largest fire at that time. Exploding whiskey bottles made the fire a menace for firefighters to bring the blaze under control, and in total 80,000 gallons of wine were lost. At the time, it was the largest fire Denver had ever seen. The source of the fire remains unknown, however arson remains a likely scenario from competing interests. The company quickly rebuilt a new, more modern facility a few blocks north on 1100 Wazee. John Carbone's knowledge of wines and the wine industry placed him in a good position to build out a high volume operation which thrived for many years until the company leveraged its assets into Carbone Investment Company, which remained active under the leadership of John Anthony Carbone Jr in Denver well into the 21st century.
Over the years the Carbone family always celebrated the Carbone Wine label, especially Claudia Carbone and William Carbone, and it was frequently featured in newspapers and other media in the Denver area. In 2005, the Colorado Wine Room, in Colorado's famed grape growing region of Palisade, made a Colorado wine history wall that featured Carbone Wine. Italian festivals always honored the legacy of Carbone Wine and Andiamo Magazine did a feature in 2006, see below.
From left, William Carbone, Claudia Carbone, and John Jr Carbone.
Then, the youngest child of Claudia Carbone, Nicholas Chambers, bought a historic homestead in Crestone, CO in the San Luis Valley. As he was tearing down old wall coverings of old newspaper and cardboard in the old cabin he came across an old Carbone Wine box. The resurgence of Carbone Wine was now seeded for a re-manifestation in Colorado, and that very cabin became the commercial kitchen and mad scientist laboratory for all kinds of ferments (greenhouse grape wine, apple cherry cider, chokecherry wine, peach wine, dandelion wine) as well as fermentations and distillations of peaches and potatoes. Ironically even more, Nicholas became the founding GM of the Valley Roots Food Hub which is a Colorado local food distributor based out of Mosca, CO. The apple does not fall far from the tree.
The Mosca Gymnasium and Community Hall as it appeared during the heyday of Carbone Wine, circa 1939, and above as it appeared at the refounding of 2019. The building burned shortly after this 1939 photo was taken. It was then rebuilt with one story in the front and the gymnasium section was rebuilt with a repurposed airplane hanger from Pueblo.
|
Like their grandfather did so many years ago, Nick, Mike, and Dave Chambers with their nephew JD Kettle have brought the business of wine and spirits back to A. Carbone & Co and the Carbone family. They have started the renovation of a 1936 adobe gymnaisum in Mosca, CO to serve as company headquarters for a new era of wine and spirits. The company has chosen Sauvage Spectrum, a sustainably farmed estate vineyard in Palisade, Colorado, to custom crush a red blend for its re-born Carbone Wine brand. “Working with the Carbone family and their historical brand was an easy decision,” said winemaker Patric Matysiewski. “Our thoughts and values align with the family and the amazing projects Nick is working on in the San Luis Valley. The resurrection of their storied brand with such great commitment to their local market and Colorado agriculture in general made them an attractive partner to work with.” Carbone Wine has also landed a working relationship with the oldest fruit growing family in Palisade, the Talbotts. The Talbotts have been growing fruit in Palisade for over 100 years and have maintained 6 generations of family business operating orchards, fruit packing, cider, and wine. |
The Carbones enjoying the 2019 Commemorative Release: from left Chris Carbone, Gina Carbone, and Deborah Carbone.
Claudia Carbone and family dining in the "Carbone Booth" at Gaetano's Restaurant in Denver. This honorary booth was dedicated in circa 1940 as the plaque indicates, below.