This noble old villa is worth finding and exploring. Lots of interesting history here, and even better hiking trails, picnic spots, and wine.

Bartholomew Park Winery was founded in 1994 by the Bundschu family (visit nearby Gundlach-Bundschu Winery), whose vision was to produce handcrafted, vineyard-designated wines. The first recorded planting of wine grapes on the Bartholomew Park property was in the early 1830s. In 1857, Hungarian nobleman Agoston Haraszthy purchased the land and christened it "Buena Vista." Many consider his first vintage the birth of the California wine industry.

Today the winery produces limited amounts of Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel and Syrah from single vineyards.

Inside the villa is a fine tasting room with tile floors, brick walls, a fireplace, and a long wooden tasting bar. The staff is affectionately described as “quirky, offbeat, and a little buzzy.”

Down the hallway of the Villa is a well-developed wine museum, with extensive displays of photographs by Victorian photographer Eadweard Muybridge (he was born Edward, but changed his name to Eadweard –go figure), from his "A Vintage in California" series (1870-71). Paraphernalia and documents, including wall murals and agricultural tools from the past two centuries, are also on display. Soil samples, a topographical map and pictures illustrating present-day vineyard practices are also exhibited.

The villa is set adjacent to a lovely park with picnic tables, three miles of hiking trails, shade trees and lawns. The 37-acre Estate Vineyard is located at the base of the Mayacamas Mountain Range in Sonoma Valley. The vineyard was completely replanted in recent years and is farmed organically, having received organic certification in 2005.