Rancho Cucamonga in San Bernardino County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Grapes in the Desert

— The Vintners Walk —

Photographed by Adam Margolis, March 5, 2023

1. Grapes in the Desert Marker

Inscription. The enlarged vineyard of the Cucamonga Rancho in the 1860s, covering over 150 acres, set the standard for others who come to seek a living or a fortune in viticulture. After her husband, John Rains, was murdered in 1862, faced with mounting debts and the complexity of new state laws, Dona Merced was forced to sell the Rancho including the valuable vineyard and winery. Isais W. Hellman, a German immigrant, held a mortgage on the Rancho and purchased the entire 13,045 acres in 1870. He in turn sold much of the Rancho lands to a number of investors, including a Portuguese sea captain named Joseph Garcia. Purchasing over 12,000 acres from Captain Garcia, George and William Chaffey quickly established Etiwanda in 1881 and Ontario in 1882, and were the first to harness water for irrigation from the San Bernardino Mountains above. Soon citrus and a wide range of other fruits and nuts joined grapes as the Valley's agricultural products. Yet, the old Cucamonga Rancho Vineyard and Winery remained in continuous operation until the early part of the twentieth century, looking much as it did in the 1850s. Although the area changed dramatically,

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the historic Rancho Winery building on the northeast corner of Vineyard Avenue and Foothill Boulevard produced and sold wine well into the 1970s.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1862.

Location. 34° 6.366′ N, 117° 32.782′ W. Marker is in Rancho Cucamonga, California, in San Bernardino County. It can be reached from Foothill Boulevard 0.1 miles west of Rochester Avenue, on the right when traveling east. Marker is located within the pathway in front of entrance to Denny's Restaurant in Masi Plaza. Best accessed via the parking lot. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 11899 Foothill Boulevard, Rancho Cucamonga CA 91730, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles,

in the Inland Empire,

in the Peninsular Ranges,

and specifically in the Transverse Ranges.

It is also in the American Southwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

on the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

Photographed by Levi Gonzalez, December 31, 2019

2. Grapes in the Desert Marker

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The First Vineyards (a few steps from this marker); Guasti and the Italian Vineyard Company (a few steps from this marker); The Lafourcade Family and its Winery (a few steps from this marker); The Vintners Walk (a few steps from this marker); Boom or Bust: Prohibition and the Great Depression (a few steps from this marker); From Vineyards to Cities (within shouting distance of this marker); The Masi Brother's Winery (within shouting distance of this marker); Etiwanda Grape Products Company Site (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rancho Cucamonga.

More about this marker. The marker is part of the Vintners Walk, which is a pathway with a series of markers retelling the history of the area.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Photographed by Craig Baker, June 12, 2020

3. Grapes in the Desert Marker

Rancho Winery / Cucamonga Winery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, May 4, 2020

4. Rancho Winery / Cucamonga Winery

On the northeast corner of Vineyard Ave and Foothill Blvd. This is California Historical Landmark No. 490.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 23, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 6, 2020, by Levi Gonzalez of Rancho Cucamonga, California. This page has been viewed 504 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 22, 2023, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. 2. submitted on May 6, 2020, by Levi Gonzalez of Rancho Cucamonga, California. 3, 4. submitted on June 12, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.