South San Jose in Santa Clara County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Almadén Vineyards

State Historic Landmark 505 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Leticia A. Kohnen, June 7, 2007

1. State Historic Landmark 505

Inscription. On this site in 1852 Charles LeFranc made the first commercial planting of fine European wine grapes in Santa Clara County and founded Almadén Vineyards. LeFranc imported cuttings from vines in the celebrated wine districts of his native France, shipping them around the Horn by sail.

Erected 1953 by California State Parks Commission. (Marker Number 505.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Horticulture & Forestry • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1852.

Location. 37° 14.346′ N, 121° 53.682′ W. Marker is in San Jose, California, in Santa Clara County. It is in South San Jose. It is at the intersection of Blossom Hill Road and Dartmouth Dr. (County Route G-10) on Blossom Hill Road. Plaque is located on the soundwall, on the southeast side of the intersection of Blossom Hill Rd & Dartmouth Dr. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1530 Blossom Hill Rd, San Jose CA 95118, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Francisco Bay Area,

in Silicon Valley,

and 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 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: De Anza Expedition 1775 - 1776 (approx. 0.4 miles away); El Senador Mine

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(approx. 2 miles away); El Senator Mine (approx. 2 miles away); Goodrich Quarry (approx. 2.7 miles away); Hamilton House (approx. 3.6 miles away); History of Vieira Park (approx. 3.8 miles away); The Teddy Roosevelt Tree (approx. 3.9 miles away); Barron House (approx. 4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Jose.

Additional keywords. California verticulture, California Wineries

Alamaden Vineyard original Winery Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Leticia A. Kohnen, June 7, 2007

2. Alamaden Vineyard original Winery Building

All that remains of the original winery is this brick building which housed the original wine making and storage rooms. It is now part of Almaden Park.

Old Wine Press image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Leticia A. Kohnen, June 7, 2007

3. Old Wine Press

This hand operated wine press, once used at the winery is now the centerpiece of the park's rose garden.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 19, 2007, by Mathew H. Kohnen of San Jose, California. This page has been viewed 2,380 times since then and 64 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 19, 2007, by Mathew H. Kohnen of San Jose, California. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.