Guide to the Benjamin and Mayon Ichinose Papers D-740
Michelle Trujillo
University of California, Davis Library, Dept. of Archives and Special Collections
2024
1st Floor, Shields Library, University of California
100 North West Quad
Davis, CA 95616-5292
Telephone: (530) 752-1621
Fax Number: (530) 754-5758
speccoll@ucdavis.edu
Contributing Institution:
University of California, Davis Library, Dept. of Archives and Special Collections
Title: Benjamin and Mayon Ichinose Papers
Identifier/Call Number: D-740
Physical Description:
10.6 linear feet
7 records boxes, 4 document cases, 1 folio
Date (inclusive): 1959-2019
Abstract: Collection contains files documenting Mayon and Benjamin Ichinose's activities as wine collectors and gourmets.
Physical Location: This collection is stored off-site at the Northern Regional Library Facility. Researchers should contact Archives and Special
Collections to request collections in advance.
Language of Material:
English
.
Access
Collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Louise Ichinose Bonomo, 2022.
Biographical / Historical
Dr. Benjamin Ichinose was a noted Japanese American wine collector who was widely regarded as having one of the finest wine
collections in the country during his lifetime. Ichinose and his wife, Chinese American Mayon (Tong) Ichinose, took part in
and led gourmet experiences with fellow collectors, enthusiasts, and professionals in the worlds of food and wine. A 1979
column titled "From the Frying Pan" written by Bill Hosokawa named Ichinose as one of 15 Nisei who influenced America.
Benjamin Ichinose was born in Koloa, Hawai'i, on the island of Kauai, and his wife Mayon Tong was born in Oakland, California.
Mr. Ichinose spent his early life on his family's farm before moving to California to complete his studies at UC Berkeley
(1951) and UC San Francisco (1957), where he received his dentistry degree. After serving as a US Army captain in Yokohama,
Japan, he returned to the Bay Area in 1959 where he met Mayon. Before this, Mrs. Ichinose earned her Bachelor of Science degree
from UC Berkeley in 1952. In the following years they would have three children: Louise, Robert, and Lori.
In 1968, the Ichinoses moved to Hillsborough, California, where they developed a renowned cellar for storing their massive
wine collection. Mr. Ichinose consulted with professors in UC Davis' Viticulture and Enology department during the cellar's
construction, particularly Dr. James "Jim" Guymon, who had performed extensive research on the optimal temperatures to age
wine. With this knowledge, Ichinose created a cellar with three (eventually expanded to four) rooms, each refrigerated at
specific temperatures. Every room was designed to house specific varieties of wine at particular points in their aging process.
In the Ichinoses' lifetimes, they amassed a collection of over 55,000 bottles of wine.
Through their love of wine, food, and travel, the Ichinoses developed lifelong friendships with various figures in the wine
industry, such as wine critic and author Michael Broadbent. They were not only members of many wine groups and societies throughout
California and the world, but Mr. Ichinose held positions of leadership in these groups. These societies included the Berkeley
Wine & Food Society, La Confrérie de la Chaine des Rôtisseurs, and the Bacchus Society. Mayon Ichinose passed away in 2016
and after Mr. Ichinose's passing in 2019, their wine collection was obtained and auctioned by Christie's in 2020.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Benjamin and Mayon Ichinose Papers, D-740, Archives and Special Collections, UC Davis Library, University
of California, Davis.
Processing Information
Michelle Trujillo created this finding aid. The biography was written by Ezekiel McGee and Michelle Trujillo.
Scope and Contents
The Benjamin and Mayon Ichinose Papers chronicle the couple's activities while they amassed a legendary wine collection that
reached approximately 55,000 bottles. The Ichinoses' cellars were praised for their design and construction focused on maintaining
optimal conditions for wine storage, a tenet Benjamin Ichinose learned from UC Davis Viticulture and Enology professor James
"Jim" Guymon. The bulk of the Ichinoses' wine collection included French, German, and Californian wines as well as madeiras,
ports, and sherries. This collection contains wine labels and menus, tasting notes, auction catalogs, marketing materials,
newsletters, binders and spiral bound booklets, newspapers, and photographs.
Publication Rights
All applicable copyrights for the collection are protected under chapter 17 of the U.S. Copyright Code. Requests for permission
to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication
is given on behalf of the Regents of the University of California as the owner of the physical items. It is not intended to
include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.
Arrangement
The files are arranged in twelve series, with five further arranged in subseries. Original folder titles are preserved as
often as possible to convey arrangement and in other instances, titles were devised or edited. Original folder labels have
been retained within their current folders.
Series arrangement varies from chronological, alphabetical, and alphanumerical arrangement, but note that subseries 12.1 Grouped
Labels is arranged chronologically by tasting date whereas subseries 12.2 Loose Labels is arranged chronologically by vintage.
The series and subseries arrangement of the materials is as follows:
Series 1: Menus and Tasting Notes
Subseries 1.1: Miscellaneous
Subseries 1.2: Societies
Subseries 1.3: Wine & Food Tasting Notes
Series 2: Oversize Wine Menus
Subseries 2.1: Chaine des Rotisseurs
Subseries 2.2: Other Events
Series 3: Correspondence
Subseries 3.1: Chronological
Subseries 3.2: Alphabetical
Series 4: Newsletters and Offerings
Series 5: Recipes
Series 6: Catalogs, Booklets, Magazines, and Guides
Series 7: Clippings Files
Subseries 7.1: Articles and Clippings
Subseries 7.2: Press Clippings
Series 8: Wine and Food Societies
Series 9: Speech Files
Series 10: Miscellaneous Entertainment Files
Series 11: Wine Cellar Files
Series 12: Wine Labels
Subseries 12.1: Grouped Labels
Subseries 12.2: Loose Labels
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Wine tasting
Wine and wine making
Food and wine pairing
Gourmets
Wine cellars
Menus and Tasting Notes
Scope and Contents
This series includes food and wine menus and corresponding notes.
Arrangement
This series is arranged in three subseries:
Subseries 1.1: Miscellaneous
Subseries 1.2: Societies
Subseries 1.3: Wine & Food Tasting Notes
Miscellaneous
Processing Information
Original folders were labeled "Entertainment: Menus: Others"
Scope and Contents
This subseries includes food and wine menus and corresponding notes that were grouped by date ranges.
Arrangement
Alphanumerical, first sorted by date and then alphabetical by title.
Box 1, Folder 1
1959 August 3-1959 August 18
Box 2, Folder 3
1945 Annee De La Victoire: The Group Visits the 1945 Clarets
November 1, 1982
Box 2, Folder 4
Beaulieu Vineyard: A Retrospective 1936-1974
January 14, 1984
Box 2, Folder 5
Chateau La Mission Haut Brion: A Retrospective 1878-1982
February 24, 1985
Box 6, Folder 16
La Fete du Chateau Latour
1976-1981
Box 2, Folder 6
Ichinose and Bonomo Hosting Menus
March 16, 1996
Societies
Processing Information
Original folders labeled "Entertainment: Menus: Societies"
Scope and Contents
Ths subseries includes food and wine menus and corresponding notes grouped by food society name and date.
Arrangement
Alphabetical by society name.
Box 2, Folder 10
California Vintage Wine Society
1976-1979
Box 2, Folder 12
Confrerie de la Chaine (2 of 3)
1971-1988
Box 2, Folder 13
Confrerie de la Chaine (3 of 3)
1971-1988
Box 2, Folder 16
Medical Friends of Wine (3 of 3)
1975-1982
Box 2, Folder 17
Premier Cru Club
1970-1971
Wine & Food Tasting Notes
Scope and Contents
This subseries includes tasting notes and scoring cards.
Arrangement
Alphanumerical, first sorted by date and then alphabetical by title.
Box 3, Folder 6
Miscellaneous Tastings
1982-1984
Box 3, Folder 7
Port Tasting
April 8, 1985
Box 3, Folder 8
Tasting cards (blank)
1974-1979
Box 3, Folder 9
A Tasting of Clarets
1974-1979
Box 3, Folder 10
A Tasting of Fine Red and White Burgundies
1974-1979
Box 3, Folder 11
Vintners Club (1 of 4)
1974-1979
Box 3, Folder 12
Vintners Club (2 of 4)
1974-1979
Box 3, Folder 13
Vintners Club (3 of 4)
1974-1979
Box 3, Folder 14
Vintners Club (4 of 4)
1974-1979
Oversize Wine Menus
Scope and Contents
This series includes wine menus from hotels, vineyards, events such as wine tours, and bespoke menus created for the Ichinoses.
Arrangement
This series is arranged in two subseries:
Subseries 2.1: Chaine des Rotisseurs
Subseries 2.2: Other Events
Chaine des Rotisseurs
Scope and Contents
This subseries contains menus from Chaine des Rotisseurs events.
Arrangement
Alphabetical by menu title.
Box 4, Folder 2
California Culinary Academy
November 13, 1979
Box 4, Folder 3
A Caviar Experience
March 3, 1978
Box 4, Folder 4
Concordia-Argonaut
November 28, 1978
Box 4, Folder 5
Dinner at the Home of Ernest Gallo
October 3, 1970
Box 4, Folder 7
Fairmont Hotel New Orleans Swamp Party
October 29, 1987
Box 4, Folder 8
Fete D'Automne
November 29, 1979
Box 4, Folder 9
The French Club
May 22, 1974
Box 4, Folder 12
Hotel Windsor Court New Orleans
undated
Box 4, Folder 13
Kee Joon's Cuisine of China
May 18, 1975
Box 4, Folder 14
Los Angeles and San Francisco Chapters
undated
Box 4, Folder 15
National Cooking Institute
September 12, 1980
Box 4, Folder 16
Ritz Carlton Rancho Mirage
November 5, 1988
Box 4, Folder 17
Springtime at the Columbia Gorge Hotel
May 14, 1988
Box 4, Folder 18
S.S. Royal Viking Star
Apri; 28, 1973
Box 4, Folder 19
Stonepine
December 13, 1987
Box 4, Folder 20
The Westin Benson, Portland
October 21, 1989
Box 4, Folder 21
Windsor Court Hotel New Orleans
October 28-November 1, 1987
Box 4, Folder 22
Windsor Court Hotel New Orleans
October 28, 1987
Other Events
Scope and Contents
This subseries contains menus from other events.
Arrangement
Alphabetical by menu title.
Box 5, Folder 1
60eme Anniversaire de Norte Ami Henri Lapuyade
May 2, 1988
Box 5, Folder 3
BV Dinner
November 9, 1974
Box 5, Folder 4
Chateau Benmayon A Birthday in Autumn
September 24, 1977
Box 5, Folder 5
A Classic Chinese Banquet of the Society of Medical Friends of Wine at the Empress of China
June 6, 1973
Box 5, Folder 6
Connoisseur's Christmas Dinner
December 19, 1971
Box 5, Folder 7
Diner ofert par le Docteur Benjamin Ichinose
November 10, 1966
Box 5, Folder 8
Dinner and Tasting of 1974 California Cabernet Sauvignon in honor of Mr. Hardy Rodenstock
December 6, 1989
Box 5, Folder 9
A Dinner at the Empress of China - International Wine and Food Society
October 3, 1974
Box 5, Folder 10
The Drake Hotel - Society of Bacchus
October 24-29, 1987
Box 5, Folder 11
Ernest and Amelia, Sixty Years Together
October 5, 1991
Box 5, Folder 12
Fete de Printemps
April 7, 1973
Box 5, Folder 13
La Folie - Dennis Foley 50th Birthday
February 17, 1996
Box 5, Folder 15
The Grand Assemblage of Springtime
1977
Box 5, Folder 17
Hotel de la Poste Chevillot
March 6, 1966
Box 5, Folder 18
Imperial Palace
August 28, 1972
Box 5, Folder 19
Inglenook, Hanzell, Sterling, Buena Vista wineries
undated
Box 5, Folder 20
Jean-Louis at Watergate
November 5, 1981
Box 5, Folder 21
KQED and Sotheby Parke Bernet present Mr. Patrick Grubb, M.W.
October 12, 1979
Box 5, Folder 22
L'ambassade D'auvergne
undated
Box 5, Folder 23
Laurent Perrier & Co. - A Salute to Excellence
October 8, 1973
Box 6, Folder 1
La Provence
September 2, 1979
Box 6, Folder 2
La Provence
April 28, 1980
Box 6, Folder 3
Restaurant de la Tour d'Argent
undated
Box 6, Folder 4
La Rotisserie du Chambertin
September 22, 1973
Box 6, Folder 5
Sanguinetti
August 6, 1959
Box 6, Folder 6
Spiaggia - Society of Bacchus
October 23, 1987
Box 6, Folder 7
Sunset Wine and Food Society Dinner Meeting
September 26, 1973
Box 6, Folder 9
Le Trianon Restaurant Francais
undated
Box 6, Folder 11
A Vintage Evening, North Beach Restaurant
May 9, 1978
Box 6, Folder 12
The Vintage of Bernard Vinum Bionum!
November 1, 1980
Box 6, Folder 13
Vintage Tour of the Los Angeles and San Francisco Branches to the Wine and Foods Society of Napa and Sonoma Counties
1946
Box 6, Folder 14
The Wine and Food Society of San Francisco Dinner at Sunset
September 15, 1979
Box 6, Folder 15
Wine from the Sunset Cellar
February 28, 1979
Box 7, Folder 2
Twenty-Fifth Anniversary Annual Dinner for the Mister Gourmet
October 17, 1981
Correspondence
Scope and Contents
This series includes typed and handwritten correspondence primarily regarding wine transactions and tastings.
Arrangement
This series is arranged in two subseries:
Subseries 3.1: Chronological
Subseries 3.2: Alphabetical
Chronological
Scope and Contents
This subseries includes typed and handwritten correspondence primarily regarding wine transactions and tastings, purchases,
bids on cellars, visits to the Ichinose cellar, availability of wines and shipment updates, and "thank you" letters.
Arrangement
Chronological by date.
Alphabetical
Scope and Contents
This subseries includes typed and handwritten correspondence between the Ichinoses and other wine personalities of note.
Arrangement
Alphabetical by surname.
Box 8, Folder 14
de Villaine - DRC
1969-1975
Box 8, Folder 16
Jim-Wong wedding invitation
November 10, 1979
Newsletters and Offerings
Scope and Contents
This series includes price lists and market updates.
Arrangement
Alphabetical by business name.
Box 8, Folder 21
Chateau Haut-Brion
undated
Box 8, Folder 22
Chateau & Estate Wines Company Educational Wine Tasting
February 14, 1983
Box 8, Folder 23
Clos du Mesnil 300th Anniversaire
1998
Box 8, Folder 24
Esquin - Past (1 of 2)
1962-1966
Box 8, Folder 25
Esquin - Past (2 of 2)
1962-1966
Box 8, Folder 26
Marin Wine Cellar and other price lists
1986-1988
Box 8, Folder 27
Miscellaneous - Past
1963-1970
Recipes
Scope and Contents
This series includes handwritten, typed, and clipped recipes.
Arrangement
Alphabetical by food type.
Box 9, Folder 3
Miscellaneous Wine and Food
1967-1970
Box 9, Folder 4
Miscellaneous Wine and Food
1973-1977
Box 9, Folder 6
Potatoes and vegetables
1964
Catalogs, Booklets, Magazines, and Guides
Scope and Contents
This series includes tasting guides, auction house catalogs, magazines.
Arrangement
Alphabetical by title.
Box 9, Folder 11
Cellar Fine Wines
Fall 2008
Box 9, Folder 12
Cellarbook: Ichinose Collection of Fine and Rare Wines
circa 1974
Box 9, Folder 13
Chicago Wine Company Fine Wine Auction
November 10, 1984
Box 9, Folder 14
Christie's - The Exemplary Cellar of the late Dr. Alejandro Zaffaroni and a Collection of Luce Direct from the Estate
June 18, 2015
Box 9, Folder 15
Christie's - Finest and Rarest Wines: The 40 Year Jubilee of Alpina Fine Wines
November 10, 2019
Box 9, Folder 16
Christie's - Finest and Rarest Wines: A Journey through the Vinkallare of Staffan Hasson
June 22, 2017
Box 9, Folder 17
Christie's - Finest and Rarest Wines and Spirits
December 13, 2019
Box 9, Folder 18
Christie's - A Study in Distinction
December 8, 2017
Box 9, Folder 19
Christie's - Wine Tasting
1973
Box 9, Folder 20
French American Bilingual School Fifth Annual Wine Tasting Party and Auction of Rare Vintage Wines
1975
Box 9, Folder 21
Great Burgundies of Cote d'Or
undated
Box 9, Folder 22
Great Wine Masterpieces from California and Europe
May 26, 1971
Box 9, Folder 23
Hart Davis Hart Wine Co. - A Celebration of Burgundy
April 1, 2017
Box 9, Folder 24
One Doctor's Guide to San Francisco Restaurants
August 1992
Box 9, Folder 25
Sotheby's - Fine and Rare Wines
May 16-17, 1997
Clippings Files
Scope and Contents
This series contains articles and clippings related to wine and food, as well as the Ichinose family.
Arrangement
This series is arranged in two subseries:
Subseries 7.1: Articles and Clippings
Subseries 7.2: Press Clippings
Articles and Clippings
Scope and Contents
This series contains wine and food articles.
Arrangement
Alphanumerical, first sorted by date and then alphabetical by author.
Box 9, Folder 32
Spander, Art
December 1979
Press Clippings
Processing Information
Subtitle on original folder is "Family Activities and Interests"
Scope and Contents
The series contains clippings related to family activities and interests.
Arrangement
Alphabetical by topic.
Box 9, Folder 33
Ichinose family in the press
1973-1984
Wine and Food Societies
Scope and Contents
This series includes files regarding Bay Area and international wine and food societies.
Arrangement
Alphabetical by name of organization.
Box 9, Folder 34
Berkeley (1 of 2)
1965-1978
Box 9, Folder 35
Berkeley (2 of 2)
1965-1978
Box 9, Folder 36
Chaine Letter and Menu
1975-1978
Box 9, Folder 37
Confrerie de la Chaine #2
1975-1976
Box 9, Folder 38
Confrerie de la Chaine (1 of 3)
1969-1976
Box 10, Folder 1
Confrerie de la Chaine (2 of 3)
1969-1976
Box 10, Folder 2
Confrerie de la Chaine (3 of 3)
1975-1978
Box 10, Folder 3
Confrerie de la Chaine
1977-1978
Box 10, Folder 4
Confrerie de la Chaine - A View from the Vineyards
March 9, 1986
Box 10, Folder 5
Medical Friends of Wine
undated
Box 10, Folder 6
Medical Friends of Wine
1977-1978
Speech Files
Scope and Contents
This series contains research, copies, and photo negatives of Ichinose speech about building a wine cellar.
Arrangement
Alphabetical by topic.
Box 10, Folder 9
Wine Cellar Final Speech
May 1974
Box 10, Folder 10
Wine Cellar Research (1 of 3)
May 1974
Box 10, Folder 11
Wine Cellar Research (2 of 3)
May 1974
Box 10, Folder 12
Wine Cellar Research (3 of 3)
May 1974
Box 10, Folder 13
Wine Cellar Slides and Negatives
1974
Box 10, Folder 14
Wine Cellar Research Material (1 of 2)
1967-1974
Box 10, Folder 15
Wine Cellar Research Material (2 of 2)
1967-1974
Box 10, Folder 16
Wine Cellar Speech Copies
May 1974
Miscellaneous Entertainment Files
Scope and Contents
This series contains epicurean recommendations regarding food, restaurants, and chefs.
Arrangement
Alphabetical by topic.
Box 10, Folder 19
Guide to Restaurants of N. California
1975
Wine Cellar Files
Scope and Contents
This series contains planning notes and materials orders for the Ichinose cellar.
Arrangement
Alphabetical by topic.
Box 10, Folder 21
Wine racks; vaults
1966-1971
Wine Labels
Scope and Contents
Contains wine labels from Ichinose wine tastings.
Arrangement
This series is arranged in two subseries:
Subseries 12.1: Grouped Labels
Subseries 12.2: Loose Labels
Grouped Labels
Scope and Contents
This subseries contains groupings of wine labels from tastings.
Arrangement
Chronological by date of tasting.
Box 10, Folder 53
2003 November-2003 December, including Deer Valley
Box 11, Folder 2
2004 September-2004 November
Box 11, Folder 8
2005 October-2006 February
Loose Labels
Scope and Contents
This subseries includes loose wine labels, some have notes inscribed.
Arrangement
Chronological by vintage.
