Barbara Morgan Eisele

Barbara Morgan Eisele 1912 - 2007 Barbara Eisele passed away peacefully at her home in Rutherford, CA, on September 30, 2007. The third child of William O. and Apphia V. Morgan, Barbara was born and raised in Piedmont, CA. She was predeceased by her parents; brother, Vance; sister, Catherine Trefethen, and her beloved husband, Milton D. Eisele (1996). After Piedmont High, she graduated from the University of California (1933), as had her father (1887) and later, her daughter, Francie. After Cal, and against her parents' wishes, she moved to New York City and entered the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, intent on an acting career. A few years later, acceding to her parents' wishes, she returned to Piedmont. In 1941, she married Milton Eisele, whom she had met and dated while they were students at Cal. Barbara and Milt settled in Palo Alto where they raised their three children. A devoted wife and mother, Barbara was also active in the community. Among other things, she was a member of the Palo Alto Junior League and a volunteer at the Stanford Foreign Students Assoc., where she served two terms as president. In anticipation of Milt's retirement as an executive with Kaiser Aluminum, Barbara and Milt had long envisioned owning a vineyard and growing wine grapes in the Napa Valley. In 1969, they bought what became known as Eisele Vineyard on Pickett Road in Calistoga, CA. In 1970 Milt retired, and in 1971 Barbara and Milt moved to their vineyard and became full-time wine grape growers. Eisele Vineyard became known for producing some of the finest Cabernet Sauvignon grapes in the Napa Valley. Wineries that vineyard-designated Eisele Cabernet were Ridge (1971) and Joseph Phelps (1975-1991). In 1983, Robert Parker wrote "Asked what is the greatest California Cabernet I've drunk, I would undoubtedly say the 1975 Eisele Vineyard from Phelps." In 1990, Bart and Daphne Araujo acquired the vineyard, built a winery and named it Araujo Estate Eisele Vineyard. In the Napa Valley, Barbara continued her commitment to the community. With good friends Molly Chappellet, Belle Rhodes and others, she helped start the Napa Valley Cooking Class in 1972 at Trefethen Vineyards. Many legendary chefs appeared as guest lecturers over the years. Barbara was among the first volunteers at the Napa Valley Wine Auction. She was also active in the Napa Valley Garden Class, the Napa Valley Theater Group, the Napa Valley Women in Wine and was on the board of the Napa Valley Opera House. A gracious and genteel lady, Barbara possessed a delightfully wry sense of humor and a zest for life. She never lost her taste for Eisele Cabernet, good martinis, oysters on the half shell, Ramos fizzes, or her flair for quoting Shakespeare or other poets to fit any occasion. She reveled in Thanksgiving and Christmas with family and friends and always got a laugh from the first of May. Her friends spanned all age groups and she led an active and fulfilling social life with them all. She will be deeply missed by her family and many friends. She is survived by her children Francie Osthimer (Charles), Glennie Eisele and Douglas Eisele; her grandchildren Morgan and Charles Osthimer IV and Stephen Eisele (Crystal); her great granddaughter, Dakota Eisele; her niece Carla Trefethen Saunders and her nephew John Trefethen. A celebration of her life will be held at Grace Episcopal Church in St. Helena on October 12th, at 2:00 PM. The family prefers donations to the Foundation Fighting Blindness to support research for macular degeneration.