Where is the birthplace of the California Wine Industry

[kershaw]

Please help me settle a bet. My friend says that the birthplace of the California Wine Industry is Sonoma Valley, I say it is more general and also includes the Napa Valley. Which is it?

[Bucko]

Sonoma -- Buena Vista Winery, the oldest premium winery in California, founded in 1857 by Count Agoston Haraszthy, the father of California viticulture.

BuckHistory

[Thomas]

The first commercial success in California wine took place in Anaheim (Los Angeles County) and it was owned by German immigrants who went west from Missouri. The first grape they used to make wine was Catawba, but that did not last long. The date escapes me, and I haven't the time to go look it up, but it was well before Buena Vista. In fact, the Anaheim affair was either just before, or during the Gold Rush days.

[Aaron Grape]

Actually the California wine industry began as early as the 18th century when franciscan monks started planting the mission grape as they worked their way north establishing missions

[Thomas]

Technically, the monks did not create a commercial wine industry, at least not a successful one. Their task was mainly religious.