Rancho Cucamonga in San Bernardino County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
The Thomas Winery More than a century of service.
Photographed by Joseph Beeman, May 28, 2006
1. Interpretative Sign
This was California's oldest commercial winery. The winery's two 1400 gallon oak aging casks were not "coopered" locally, but were carried "around the Horn" on a clipper ship!
Missionaries brought grape vines to Mexico and California in the late 1700s to provide sacramental wines. In fact, the Mission San Gabriel vineyard provided the Black Mission Grape cuttings used by Tapia to establish his Mother Vineyard in 1839: twelve rows each with forty-seven plants. Six years later, his 13,000-acre property contained more than 3400 vines.
Thomas Vineyard's grape wines were complemented by a wide variety of other fruit base wines including cherry, red currant, raspberry, blackberry, loganberry, apple (hard cider) and apricot. At its peak, the winery's extensive offerings were enjoyed both by local residents and Route 66 travelers.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Hispanic Americans • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1400.
Location. 34° 6.434′ N, 117° 36.625′ W. Marker is in Rancho Cucamonga, California, in San Bernardino County. It is on Foothill
this page online
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 walking distance of this marker: Cucamonga Winery (here, next to this marker); Tapia Adobe Site (within shouting distance of this marker); Red Hill (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Cucamonga Labor Camp (approx. 0.3 miles away); 1826 (approx. 0.4 miles away); 1839 (approx. 0.4 miles away); 1840s (approx. 0.4 miles away); 1858 (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rancho Cucamonga.
Photographed by Joseph Beeman, May 28, 2006
2. Cucamonga Winery
Credits. This page was last revised on February 18, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 18, 2026, by Joseph Beeman of Upland, California. This page has been viewed 53 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 29, 2006, by Joseph Beeman of Upland, California. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
