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Category: Wine Articles – Overview

Wine History

Collecting, preserving and sharing the story of wine in SLO County.

Ancient History

The First Vineyard Owner – 2350 B.C.

Well, surely you remember Noah, the ship builder and sailor, who loaded his wife and the animals two by two onto his ark to save them from the giant flood. The Book of Genesis in the Bible tells the story that as soon as the great flood waters receded around 2350 B.C. Noah, his family and the animals, two by two, disembarked. Noah found a plot of land nearby and began to plant a vineyard. It may not have been the very first vineyard to be planted on earth, but it was the first documented ownership of a vineyard.

19th Century History

Introduction To The Rancho Era

The area now known as San Luis Obispo County had far fewer residents during the Golden Era of the Rancho Period than most other areas in Mexican California. The Mexicans fought to free their people and lands from Spanish rule and celebrated this freedom from 1832 by creating Ranchos, which became the dominant institution of Mexican California. Rancho is a Mexican word that describes a tract of land used for raising cattle, sheep and horses.

  • Wine - 1900s & 1910s History
  • Wine - 1920s & 1930s History
  • Wine - 1940s & 1950s History

The Gold Rush, Restaurants, Grapes And Prohibition

Located near the northeastern end of the San Francisco Peninsula, between the Presidio of San Francisco and the Mission San Francisco de Asis, was a Spanish settlement, Yerba Buena. This settlement was originally established as a trading post for ships visiting the Bay area. Yerba Buena grew to become the great city of San Francisco. The Alcalde or mayor of Yerba Buena issued a proclamation renaming the town San Francisco on January 30, 1847. In 1848 the population of the newly-named town of San Francisco was about 1,000.

The Rise Of Farm Protective Associations: Fighting Crime And Fraud In Prohibition-Era Agriculture

Many farm and agricultural journals of the time, including American Agriculturist, created new departments and named them Service Bureaus. These departments acted as a consumer advocate and as an intermediary between companies and subscribers. The service was not free. For a minimum subscription, each member received a membership certificate and a sign. (Maybe in some cases, this was published on cardboard, depending on the level of membership subscription.)

  • Wine - 1960s History
  • Wine - 1970s History
  • Wine - 1980s History

21st Century History

The Central Coast Wine Classic Is A Landmark Historical Event In San Luis Obispo County Timeline – Central Coast Wine Classic And Archie McLaren

Archie McLaren co-founded the Central Coast Wine Classic in 1985. It became the most significant wine event in San Luis Obispo County history to date. Archie brought the greatest wines, winemakers, and chefs to San Luis Obispo County to introduce them to our vineyards and a new generation of local winemakers. He wanted to create events that would empower everyone. Archie believed that San Luis Obispo grapes and wines were equal to the great wines of the world. He brought winemakers, collectors, members of the wine trade, and the wine media to San Luis Obispo County to meet our growers and winemakers. Most importantly, he created a festival to celebrate our local food and wine to educate all who attended. It was an intimate setting where winemakers from around the world were paired with local winemakers to learn from one another. They bottled their Cuvees and auctioned them off the next day to raise money for local charities. Personal relationships were established that are critical in telling our story and shaping our history.