Rancho Cucamonga in San Bernardino County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Guasti and the Italian Vineyard Company
| | The Vintners Walk | |
Photographed by Levi Gonzalez, December 31, 2019
1. Guasti and the Italian Vineyard Company Marker
Born in 1859 in the Piemonte region of Italy, Secundo Guasti had been surrounded by vines and wines throughout his childhood. Coming to America in 1884, he assimilated into the Italian community in Los Angeles and soon began growing grapes there. Learning of the success ranchers like George Haven and Daniel Milliken were having with dry-farming practices which produced sweeter wines he purchased 2,000 acres of chaparral in 1900, adjacent to the recently completed Southern Pacific Railway line. Over 3,000 acres were procured shortly thereafter with the help of sixteen Italian immigrants who raised the needed $60,000. Guasti was then elected president of the Italian Vineyard Company, controlling 4,700 acres of wine grapes that stretched from Ontario to Fontana. The remaining 300 acres became the site of the Guasti community, complete with massive stone winery buildings, Guasti's country mansion, a range of employee housing, a general store, a church, a school, a fire station, even a post office. Guasti's savvy national marketing campaign showed the valley's growers the importance of sweet wines to their livelihood, and inspired many families from Italy to settle in the area.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Immigration
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Location. 34° 6.365′ N, 117° 32.788′ 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 on a pathway in front of the entrance to Denny's Restaurant in Masi Plaza. The marker stands behind a sculpture of Sebastian Masi. 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, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Boom or Bust: Prohibition and the Great Depression (a few steps from this marker); Grapes in the Desert (a few steps from this marker); The First Vineyards (a few steps from this marker); From Vineyards to Cities (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); 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. Marker
Photographed by Craig Baker, June 12, 2020
2. Guasti and the Italian Vineyard Company Marker
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.
Additional commentary.
1. Descendant
Very interesting read.... my name is Pete and I'm a descendant of Raphael Diaz who worked at Guasti Winery starting in 1907 until the mid 1920s. Is there a way that I can find out any information or photos of Hispanic families that worked there in those early years? My grandfather Pedro Diaz grew up there until about the age of 12 until they relocated to Montebello in the late 1920s.
Editor's note: Thank you for your question and interest. We don't have that information but will forward along any future information from our contributors.
— Submitted March 17, 2022, by Peter Solano of Lake Elsinore, Calif.
Photographed by Craig Baker, October 6, 2018
3. Massive stone winery buildings at Guasti.
Located five miles southwest of the marker.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 18, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 6, 2020, by Levi Gonzalez of Rancho Cucamonga, California. This page has been viewed 5,618 times since then and 312 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on May 6, 2020, by Levi Gonzalez of Rancho Cucamonga, California. 2, 3. submitted on June 13, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
