The History of California Wineries

The California wine industry has a long and storied history, dating back to 1769 when Father Junipero Serra planted grape seeds and vines in San Diego. This marked the beginning of a chain of missions that eventually extended to Sonoma, more than 600 miles to the north. The success of the California wine industry is due to many factors, including the first warehouse built in Alta California at the San Gabriel Mission, which remained the largest of the mission's warehouses for many years. Unfortunately, vineyards and wineries were abandoned for 14 years, with only a handful of wineries continuing to produce Sacramental wines.