Partner organization: Napa County Landmarks presents History of To-Kalon Vineyard

Note: This is an outside event not presented by Napa County Historical Society. Please RSVP to host organization, Napa County Landmarks.

Please join Napa County Landmarks in the Native Sons of the Golden West ballroom for a fascinating presentation on the history of Napa County’s most storied vineyard. Oakville vintner Graeme MacDonald has been working for years to prepare a National Register of Historic Places nomination for the To-Kalon Vineyard Historic District. The vineyard was originally established in 1868 by H. W. Crabb, who acquired grape varieties from around the world, assembling the largest collection in the United States. Crabb was a winemaking innovator, and his marketing efforts helped establish the reputation of the first generation of California wines. In the 1960s, Robert Mondavi winery began using grapes from the historic To-Kalon Vineyard in some of its most acclaimed wines, and wines from To-Kalon grapes are in some of the most sought-after Napa Valley wines.

Graeme MacDonald and his brother Alex began making wine from the grapes they grew on a portion of the historic To-Kalon vineyard while they were still in college, releasing their first commercial vintage in 2010. Their family’s association with the vineyard goes back to 1954, when their great-grandparents purchased it as a retirement property. The MacDonald family sold their grapes to Robert Mondavi Winery for over half a century. MacDonald will present a PowerPoint describing the history of the vineyard and surrounding area as well as the nomination project and will answer audience questions. Wine and light refreshments will be served after the presentation. Please RSVP at the Facebook Event Page or Napa County Landmarks Website.