In the autumn of 1917, young ensign Andrei Chelishchev learned that peasants had revolted at his estate in the Kaluga province, hanged hunting dogs, and looted the manor. This made him abandon his return to his homeland. Later, he joined the White Army, retreated with battles to Crimea, and emigrated abroad with Wrangel's army. Chelishchev settled in France, where he began working at the National Institute of Agrochemistry. From 1930, he focused on microbiology, worked in vineyards, and established himself as a good specialist.

In 1938, a significant turn occurred in his life: the owner of the Boulle winery, Georges de Latour, offered him a job in California's Napa Valley. Chelishchev agreed but was shocked when he arrived in the USA: due to Prohibition, wine production was almost destroyed, its quality left much to be desired, and the factories were unsanitary.

Chelishchev had to start almost from scratch. He developed methods to protect vineyards from frost and diseases, then focused on production. Cast iron pipes were replaced with glass, dirty iron presses with stainless steel, and thorough sanitation of barrels was introduced. The results were quick to follow.

At one competition in France, where wines were judged blind, California products took first place. The jury was surprised, as American wines had previously been considered among the worst. Soon, the cabernet produced under Chelishchev's guidance became the official wine for state receptions at the White House.

When Andrei Viktorovich turned 85, he was offered to head another large estate, but he declined due to his age: "Making wine is like raising children. You need to check on it every week to see how it behaves. And my legs are already shaking." Chelishchev passed away in 1994, and in his honor, a monument was erected in Napa.