MO M E N T S IN W INE C OU N T RY HIST ORY 1871 The First Crisis
The root louse Phylloxera threatens to destroy the wine industry. Farmers fight back by using hardier rootstocks.
1905 A Writer at Work
Author Jack London, already famous for such works as The Call of the Wild and The Sea Wolf, establishes his Beauty Ranch in Glen Ellen.
1920 America goes dry
C o u r t e s y o f s o n o m a c o u n t y t o u r i s m / s o n o m a c o u n t y. c o m
Barndiva, Healdsburg
upping the demand for locally grown fruits, vegetables, meats, seafood, and dairy products. Agricultural land that’s not used for grapes is used to grow organic produce or feed free-range livestock. The interdisciplinary nature of wine growing has enhanced the cultural vitality of the region. The industry relies on science, intuition, aesthetic sense as well as business sense—and a dash of luck. The result is a creative, open-minded community. Wineries host musical and theatrical performances, and many are
home to art galleries. Likewise, countless artists have found inspiration in the land. Recreationists enjoy a natural playground in the varied landscape. Parks and open spaces stretch from inland valleys across mountains and through forests to the Pacific’s coastal bluffs. The region’s natural mineral springs have inspired spas that rival Europe’s finest. The region is also an ethnic melting pot. Descendants of Italian, German, French, and Spanish settlers still tend the land; Latino immigrants are a growing presence in both counties; and visitors from around the world give the region a cosmopolitan sensibility rarely found in such a rural setting. Despite Wine Country’s emergence as a travel destination—some 12 million visitors arrive each year—it hasn’t lost its charm. It is still a land of small towns, quirky characters, and hidden treasures. You can’t help but become enchanted by the magic of the vine.
The passage of the Volstead Act establishes Prohibition. Commercial wineries suffer, but grape growers survive by selling to home winemakers around the country.
1933 A nation Celebrates
Prohibition is repealed, but the damage to the California wine industry is slow to heal.
1966 The renaissance
Robert Mondavi opens his estate winery, spurring the resurgence of commercial winemaking in Wine Country.
1976 French Toast
California wines gain international fame when two of them win the top prize in a French wine competition.
Today wine for the world
Napa and Sonoma counties are home to more than 500 wineries. World-class wines, delicious food, beautiful scenery, and vibrant culture attract millions of visitors from around the world.