Stranger than Fiction
Buena Vista Carneros

DISCOVER - March 31, 2009

Today and tomorrow we'll discover the links among Buena Vista Carneros, Bartholomew Memorial Park and Bartholomew Park Winery.

Angora cats, delinquent women, and a Hungarian sheriff. What links these strange bedfellows?

Immigrant, Agoston Haraszthy, headed west with the 49-ers; but to plant not pan. Ultimately, he bought a small vineyard in Sonoma County and named it "Buena Vista." His first vintage is considered to be the birth of the California wine industry. Haraszthy lived the life of a dozen men. A Hungarian nobleman, writer, town founder, sheriff, assayer, assemblyman; his list of adventures goes on and on.

Before his reported demise in a crocodile infested river in Nicaragua, Haraszthy expanded his Sonoma holdings to 5,000 acres, introduced thousands of vine cuttings he collected throughout Europe and built a Roman villa. Subsequent owners added to the estate's exotic history. Eccentric Kate Johnson shared a castle built by her family with 200 Angora cats. Much to the dismay of the townsfolk, the State of California later turned the castle into a State Farm for Delinquent Women. Thereafter a mysterious fire burned it to the ground. Hum!

Pioneer journalist Frank Bartholomew purchased the land, rebuilt the Haraszthy villa and, with the help of André Tchelistcheff, revived winemaking under the Buena Vista label. Bartholomew later sold the original 15-acre winery site along with the Buena Vista name and left the rest of the estate in a foundation, today known as Bartholomew Memorial Park. Visitors can absorb the full tapestry of this drama while sipping first-class wines at Buena Vista Carneros and Bartholomew Park Winery. Save time for both.

Buena Vista Carneros
18000 Old Winery Road
Sonoma, California 95476
Phone: 800 926-1266
www.BuenaVistaCarneros.com

Bartholomew Park Winery (and Memorial Park)
1000 Vineyard Lane
Sonoma, CA 95476
Phone: 707 935-9511
www.BartPark.com

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