An account written in 1885 noted that the season of 1885-1886 would probably show a much greater acreage planted in vines and fruit trees than any other season in the history of the state 1:(52). One of the largest late 19th Century vineyards and wineries in Calaveras County was that of German immigrant Frederick Mayer, who established a restaurant at Mokelumne Hill in the early 1850s. In 1860 he purchased a nearby ranch and by 1871 his wine cellar contained 10,000 gallons of wine, produced from his 20-acre vineyard of Mission, Muscat, Zinfandel, and Riesling grapes 2. In 1885 the vineyard was described as having about 17,000 vines, consisting of Mission, Shassle, Muscat, Zinfandel, Riesling and other varieties. Mayer made his grapes into white wine, claret, angelica, and brandy, all noted as of “excellent quality” 3(15, 64-65).
By 1890, Calveras County had dropped from fourth to seventeenth place in the state’s wine production, but it was noted that two wineries were operating at Mokelumne Hill, turning out about 17,000 gallons annually 4(2), 5(152). One of these was undoubtedly that of Frederick Mayer, and the other must have been that of Charles Gardella, who operated the largest commercial vineyard and winery up to that time 6. Other successful wineries were located at Poverty Bar, where a distillery was attached; at San Antonio Ridge, where John Oeters had a good-sized vineyard and winery; and at the Batten Ranch in Vallecito 7(152); 8). By 1900, 26,680 gallons of wine were being produced on 100 acres, far down from the 450 acres in 1889. The heyday was over.
- Calaveras County Illistrated and Described,
Elliott, W.W.
, (1885) - Pioneer Wives and Vines of Calaveras County,
Costa, Eric
, (1990) - Calaveras County Illistrated and Described,
Elliott, W.W.
, (1885) - The Sciaccaluga Winery,
Peak, Melinda A.
, (1990) - A Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Merced, Stanislaus, Calaveras, Tuolumne and Mariposa, Illustrated,
Lewis Publishing Company
, Chicago, (1892) - Pioneer Wives and Vines of Calaveras County,
Costa, Eric
, (1990) - A Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Merced, Stanislaus, Calaveras, Tuolumne and Mariposa, Illustrated,
Lewis Publishing Company
, Chicago, (1892) - Calaveras County, California -- Soil, Cimate, and General Resources,
Calaveras County Board of Trade
, San Andreas, Ca, (1894)
Timeline Start:
01/01/1885 - 01/01/1886
