As you may have read in the Vinesse newsletter, The Grapevine, thehistoric Buena Vista Winery will mark the 150th anniversary of it founding on September 7.
Festivities at the Sonoma, California, estate will include local artisan cuisine from select Sonoma restaurants paired with Buena Vista Carneros wines, live music, and proclamations from local government officials in honor of Hungarian Count Agoston Haraszthy, who founded the winery in 1857.
In recognition of Buena Vista’s founding as the first premium winery in California, and the subsequent importance of the California wine industry for both California’s economy and for wine, Buena Vista’s tasting room is designated an Historic Landmark and is open for tastings and tours year-round.
“The 150th anniversary of the winery’s founding stands as an important date in history,” said Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA), Co-chair of the Congressional Wine Caucus. “Moreover, I think it’s important to recognize both founder Agoston Haraszthy’s integral role in pioneering winemaking, and Buena Vista Carneros’ continued contribution to California’s reputation as the world’s premier winegrowing region.”
Other local dignitaries, including Agoston Haraszthy’s descendents, also will be in attendance.
Known around the historic Buena Vista winery as simply “The Count,” Agoston Haraszthy was an eccentric character and bon vivant who developed an elaborate and noteworthy resume of accomplishments before falling in love with the landscape of the Sonoma Valley and dedicating himself to planting wine grapes he felt would one day rival the quality of wines in the Old World.
The many feats he accomplished include founding the town of Sauk City, Wisconsin, serving as the first federal marshal and state representative of San Diego, and authoring the book “Travels of North America,” which motivated thousands of Hungarians, Swiss, Czechs and Poles to immigrate to the United States.
In March, Haraszthy was awarded the posthumous honor of being one
of the very first inductees into the Culinary Institute of America’s Vintners Hall of Fame.
