SONOMA, CA (July 25, 2018) — To celebrate the amazingly rich history of the Sonoma Valley, the Sonoma Valley Historical Society and Buena Vista Winery announce Sonoma Valley Wine History Weekend. This two-day event takes place at Buena Vista Winery on Saturday, July 28th and at Depot Park Museum on Sunday, July 29th and features lectures, live music and the presentation of an original play. All events are free to the public.
At Buena Vista, California’s first premium winery founded in 1857, on Saturday, July 28th Sonoma historian Peter Meyerhof will give a lecture at 11 a.m. in the Historic Tool Museum on the third floor of the Champagne Cellars at Buena Vista Winery. He will describe his original research, which proposes that the first grape grower at what became Buena Vista Winery was a Native American who had been taught to grow and care for grapevines by the Franciscan Fathers of the Sonoma Mission. At noon there will be the unveiling of a new exhibit at the winery describing this “first viticulturalist,” along with other artifacts and interpretive materials. The Champagne Cellars will host live music from 2:30 to 3:50 p.m. and then again following a play from 4:45 to 5:45 p.m.
At 4 p.m. is the premier of a new historical play written by local historian and playwright George Webber, who portrays Buena Vista founder Count Agoston Haraszthy at the winery. The play is entitled, “An Uneasy Future: General Vallejo, the Count, and Joaquin Murietta in Sonoma in 1852” and brings to life the historical question: “What if General Vallejo and the Count helped hide the noted Californios bandit Joaquin Murietta?”
On Sunday, July 29, Peter McGettigan, a direct descendent of General Vallejo, will deliver a lecture at the Depot Museum at 11 a.m. on the topic of his ancestor as a Sonoma winemaker.
About the Sonoma Valley Historical Society
The mission of the Sonoma Valley Historical Society is to provide a forum and a resource for the study and dissemination of Sonoma Valley history for present and future generations by identifying collecting, preserving and sharing artifacts, documents and images. The society operates the Depot Park Museum, which is open Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. The museum features exhibits on the history of Sonoma Valley from before contact with Native Americans to post California statehood, a Victorian pre-1900 era kitchen and school room, the Chinese contribution to Sonoma Valley agriculture and also includes a rotating temporary exhibit.
About Buena Vista Winery
Buena Vista Winery is California’s first premium winery; it was founded in 1857 by Hungarian immigrant Agoston Haraszthy, the self-proclaimed “Count of Buena Vista.” Possessing a deep regard for the significance of Buena Vista’s place in California wine history, Jean-Charles Boisset purchased Buena Vista in April, 2011 and added the winery to the Boisset Collection. Today, Boisset has returned Buena Vista Winery to its original glory with the complete restoration and re-opening of the historic property. The wines are achieving new heights under Winemaker Brian Maloney and Consulting Winemaker David Ramey. Buena Vista Winery is located at 18000 Old Winery Road, Sonoma, CA and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, please visit buenavistawinery.com.
