The beginning of California's wine industry

Grape Culture, Wines and Winemaking

by Agoston Haraszthy with foreword by Dr. Stephen Krebs

     Agoston Haraszthy, sometimes called the father of the California wine industry,  wrote this book following a trip to Europe.  He had been commissioned by the legislature of California and Governor Downey to find the means to promote the culture of  the grapevine in California.  He obtained thousands of cuttings which he sent back for planting in California.

     Haraszthy, in his younger days a member of the Royal Guard in his native country, had a falling out with the Austrians who controlled Hungary.  He came to the United States for a fresh start, settling first in Wisconsin.  When his grape vines languished, he looked about, and with gold newly discovered in California, he left for San Diego.  Haraszthy was Sheriff, and a state Assemblyman.  A restless fellow, he planted grape vines in San Francisco.  After a fiasco at the San Francisco mint, he moved to Sonoma.  He called his new home Buena Vista.  It was there that he planted the cuttings from Europe, and it was there that he wrote this book.  

Paperback, 141 pages, $12.95