Near Sonoma in Sonoma County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Historic Champagne Cellar Renovation

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, June 17, 2023

1. Historic Champagne Cellar Renovation Marker

Inscription. Before you is one of the most significant historical buildings in California. At the time of its unveiling it was the grandest wine cellar in California, and our mission has been to restore it to the same heights of grandeur. It is the site of many firsts in the California wine world... The first caves dug for wine storage; the first stone winery, and it was the first gravity flow winery. Together with noted historical architect Naomi Miroglio, the building has been renovated stone by stone, through several essential endeavors.

Masonry Restoration:
All of the mortar from between the stones was removed to reveal the edges of each individual stone in the building, and the mortar replaced with a mortar consisting of Natural Hydraulic Lime.

Structural Strengthening:
The building before you survived two great earthquakes - 1906 and 1989 - but not without damage. In order to be re-opened to the public, it had to undergo extensive strengthening. An innovative technique called Center Core Drilling was used as it strengthens and preserves the walls with no visible evidence. A 38 foot long core is drilled into the center of the wall, into which is placed a steel rod that is then filled with grout.

Erected by Buena Vista Winery.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Disasters. A significant historical year for this entry is 1906.

Location. 38° 17.975′ N, 122° 25.328′ W. Marker is near Sonoma, California, in Sonoma County. It can be reached from Old Winery Road east of Lovall Valley Road, on the right when traveling east. The canvas marker is mounted in a metal frame to the right of the cellar building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 18000 Old Winery Road, Sonoma CA 95476, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker

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is in California’s San Francisco Bay Area,

in Wine Country,

in the North Coast,

and specifically on the Coast Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

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 Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Double Wedding of the Century (a few steps from this marker); Buena Vista Winery and Vineyards (within shouting distance of this marker); Buena Vista Press House (within shouting distance of this marker); Buena Vista Villa & Vineyards (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Heroes of French Wine (about 400 feet away); California Wine Heroes (about 400 feet away); Chief Solano (about 400 feet away); Heroes of 19th Century Science (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sonoma.

Also see . . . Buena Vista Villa & Vineyards. An expansive timeline of the winery's history. (Submitted on August 26, 2023, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California.)

Historic Champagne Cellar and Renovation Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, June 17, 2023

2. Historic Champagne Cellar and Renovation Marker

National Register Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, June 17, 2023

3. National Register Plaque

Cellar Building
Buena Vista Winery
Has been placed on the
National Register of Historic Places
By the United Stated Department of the Interior
Constructed 1864
Rehabilitated 2012

Buena Vista Entrance Sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, June 17, 2023

4. Buena Vista Entrance Sign

Buena Vista Winery
California’s First. California’s Finest
California’s First Premium Winery
Since 1857

Winery Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, June 17, 2023

5. Winery Building

Credits. This page was last revised on August 26, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 26, 2023, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. This page has been viewed 319 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 26, 2023, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. 4, 5. submitted on August 21, 2023, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California.