Old Winery
Ahead stands the impressive historic stone winery, fondly known today as the “Old Winery.” Construction began in 1876, using stone quarried from the surrounding hillsides, and it was ingeniously built into the slope itself.
This became the very first gravity-flow winery in Napa Valley—a groundbreaking concept at the time. A graded road behind the structure allowed horse-drawn wagons to deliver grapes directly to a crusher on the flat rooftop, with the juice flowing naturally downward into the fermentation tanks below. Long before electricity, this European method—common in the Brothers’ native Rhine Valley—was virtually unknown in America and proved remarkably efficient.
That same year, the Beringer Brothers purchased 28 acres of already-planted vineyards. Jacob Beringer crafted their inaugural vintage from Riesling and Chasselas, officially launching their winemaking legacy. By 1880, the winery expanded upward with the addition of a third floor and the striking observatory that still crowns the building today.
By 1886, the Beringer Brothers were producing approximately 175,000 gallons of wine, powered by steam-driven equipment—the first winery in the United States to achieve such efficiency. With the new railway into St. Helena and Frederick’s East Coast connections, they successfully marketed their wines across the country, establishing a reputation for quality and innovation.
Their success was a perfect synergy: Jacob’s pioneering vision for building the most efficient production facility and strategically acquiring vineyards across Napa Valley, combined with Frederick’s business acumen, investment, and East Coast presence, created a foundation for enduring success.
By 1889, their wines were recognized worldwide. Their Riesling won a coveted Silver Medal at the Paris Exposition, igniting a surge of international orders—including shipments to Tokyo, Berlin, and 800 barrels of their acclaimed brandy to Liverpool.
Today, the Old Winery invites you to a seated tasting experience featuring our Winery Exclusive Portfolio and is also home to our expansive gift shop. As you enter through the door on the left, take a moment to admire the plaque marking Beringer as a National Register of Historic Places, designated on April 30, 1967.
Inside, this room—known as the Tank Room—houses large redwood casks used to settle wine after fermentation, before blending and aging in smaller barrels. Most hold over 1,000 gallons, each labeled with its unique capacity. You’ll also notice original 17th-century carved barrels from the Mainz region, the Beringer Brothers’ homeland—perfect for a memorable photo. #beringervyds
From here, continue your journey into the wine-aging tunnels, our historic wine caves, to further explore the legacy of Beringer.
