Tell me about the first commercial winery in California.


The first commercial winery in California was founded in 1857 by Hungarian-American Agoston Haraszthy who is referred to as the "Father of California Wine" (this moniker also is applied to Spanish Jesuit missionary, Father Junípero Serra). 

Haraszthy opened Buena Vista Winery in Sonoma. By 1859, the winery was producing two million gallons of wine a year and one of its most popular products was sparkling wine. 

The winery faced numerous troubles over the years, such as bankruptcy, a devastating infestation of Grape phylloxera, and Prohibition. The winery was acquired at auction and original vines replanted and reopened in the 1940s. In 1984, the winery estate expanded an additional 1,000 acres after it was purchased by a West German company. The winery continued to change hands and is now under the ownership of Jean-Charles Boisset, who operates over two dozen wineries under his wine group, Boisset Collection. 

The winery still sits on its original location and has been added to the US National Register of Historic Places and the list of California Historical Landmarks.