Near Sonoma in Sonoma County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Buena Vista Press House
Erected in 1862
Our Press House, the first stone winery building in America, was built in 1862 from volcanic stone cut out of the solid wall of the Mayacamas Mountains. Wine was made in this building the grapes were brought to the front door by horse-drawn wagons filled with 35 wooden boxes - 50 pounds of grapes in each box. Ripe grapes were dumped into a large metal container - which was brought by steam power to the grape crusher-destemmer at the top of the second floor. The crushed skins of the grapes and juice (without the seeds and stems) would then fall down into large fermentation tanks made of redwood. Each of these held 4,000 gallons, and extended to the second floor.
The Press House was a miracle of 19th century steam-power, all the apparatus was run by a steam engine which turned iron wheels--two inch leather belts snaking through the building propelled the modern machinery The steam engine was housed in a wooden building to the left of the Press House against the hillside- you can see steam rising from the engine in this lithograph from 1863. Wine was made in the Press House until 1878, when a national recession and the effects of the dreaded root-louse Phylloxera closed the Buena Vista Vinicultural Society
California's First Premium Winery-1857
Erected by Buena Vista Winery.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1982.
Location. 38° 17.971′ N, 122° 25.367′ W. Marker is near Sonoma, California, in Sonoma County. Marker can be reached from Old Winery Road. 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.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Buena Vista Winery and Vineyards (a few steps from this marker); Buena Vista Villa & Vineyards (within shouting distance of this marker); Historic Champagne Cellar Renovation (within shouting distance of this marker); Heroes of French Wine (within shouting distance of this marker); Double Wedding of the Century (within shouting distance of this marker); California Wine Heroes (within shouting distance of this marker); Chief Solano (within shouting distance of this marker); Heroes of 19th Century Science (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sonoma.
More about this marker. The marker is beside the now Wine Tasting Room.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 21, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 9, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 346 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 9, 2020, by Diane Phillips of Pittsburg, California. 2. submitted on February 9, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 3. submitted on August 21, 2023, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. 4. submitted on February 9, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.