Father Junípero Serra planted California’s first sustainable vineyard at Mission San Juan Capistrano and began the first winery in 1783. Father Serra founded nine missions with vineyards before he perished in 1784. This is why Father Serra is referred to as the “Father of California Wine” and the Mexican varietal he planted, came to be called the Mission grape and dominated California wine production until about 1880.
There is a winery in San Diego County that is still active today and claims to have a tree on their property that was planted to Father Serra. The Bernardo Winery is great to visit if you are interested in the early history of the California wine industry.
Junipero Serra Has a complicated legacy. He is credited with pushing the Spanish mission system in Alta California and in the process destroying native cultures. The mission system was known to use the local native population as slaves in return for the honor of learning the ways of Catholicism. Many people see him in a negative light today.
You can learn more about Father Serra by clicking here.
