Norton was originally propagated in 1835 by D.N. Norton in Richmond, Virginia. The grape was the final product of Norton's efforts to develop a varietal that would be eminently suited to Virginia's warm and humid climate. Norton became the workhorse grape of Virginia's Monticello Wine Company in the late 1800s; the resultant wines won notoriety in tastings as far away as Paris. Thus, Virginia at that time became the center of the Eastern wine industry, and "Virginia Claret" was known far and wide. As is often the story in the US, prohibition changed all; the Virginia industry was flattened overnight.