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Grounds bedecked with elaborate gardens and graced with stately 19th Century architecture evoke the Victorian heyday of Beringer and provide a unique glimpse into one of one of Napa Valley 's earliest wineries. The entire winery site was designated a Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001 and is the oldest continuously-operating winery in the valley.
Completed in 1884 by Architect Albert Schroepfer, Frederick Beringer's residence has beautiful exterior stonework, stained-glass windows and interior wood paneling - all exhibiting exceptional artistry and craftsmanship. When building his 17-room mansion, Frederick wanted to create a California villa that was reminiscent of the family's impressive old German home at Mainz-on-the-Rhine. Built at a cost of about $28,000 (with the 40 panels of stained glass accounting for $6,000, nearly a quarter of total construction costs) the Rhine House is a classic example of ornate Victorian architecture with its many gables, turrets and ornaments.
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The Hudson House was built around 1850 and was on the property (although not in its current location) when the Beringer brothers bought the land in 1875. It was originally the house of David Hudson, known for his involvement in the Bear Flag Revolt of 1846 in nearby Sonoma , an event that was instrumental in California winning independence from Mexico . When Frederick began planning his majestic Rhine House he decided the best location was the spot where the Hudson House, Jacob's residence, was located. So the Hudson House was moved, pulled on logs by draft horses about 200ft north to its current location.
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The Beringer brothers located their winery building against the hillside so they could use gravity flow methods to make their wine, as was the custom in their native Rhine Valley . Construction of the Old Winery began in 1876 and its became operational for the harvest of 1877. Draft horses would bring the gondolas of grapes up the road behind the winery to the third floor. Grapes were crushed in the then state-of-the-art, steam-powered crusher and the must was gravity fed down to the second floor for fermentation. After the wine finished fermenting, it flowed by gravity down to the ground floor for storage and aging, before being bottled and then aged in the tunnels.
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Rare among Napa Valley wineries, the aging caves of Beringer were dug into the hillside of Spring Mountain from the late 1870's to the early 1880's. The tedious and strenuous task of hand-chiseling the 1,200 linear feet of tunnels was completed by Chinese immigrant workers. The hillside rock acts as a natural insulator and keeps the temperature in the tunnels at an ideal 58-60 degrees Fahrenheit year-round with a humidity of 75-80%, perfect conditions for storing wine.
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This ancient valley oak, affectionately named “The Leaning Oak,” is well over 200 years old and a touchstone for the natural beauty of the property. The tree has been designated a U.S. constitution Bicentennial Tree because it was alive at the time of the signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787. In honor of this majestic tree, Beringer produces a line of wines called “Leaning Oak” which are available exclusively at the winery.
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To better experience the history and magnificence of the Beringer property, please come and visit us.
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