Grapevine Arbor - San Gabriel, California

Ailbhe J.

How did this “Ramona” vine get here?

The story goes that in 1861, L.J. Rose, a nearby landowner and winemaker, transported a grapevine stalk from his property to this location. Mr Rose named his vineyard farm “Sunny Slope”, which was adjacent to his neighbor and fellow vintner, Benjamin Wilson, who owned Lake Vineyard. A portion of that land is where the Huntington Library, the Old Mill, and Lacy Park are now located.

Before L.J. Rose had this vine, however, it reportedly came from a canyon in San Marino, just a stone’s throw west from what is now the Japanese Gardens within The Huntington Library (that garden exists in one of these canyons).

According to one legal document, this vine cutting was “procured” from Wilson's land by a local resident, named Andrew Courtney. The precise location was Mission Canyon, aka Wild Grape Canyon. Mr Courtney planted this on his property, which was nearby.

Some time later, L.J. Rose purchased Mr Courtney’s land, but the hearty grapevine stalk - now a bit older - proved to be a nuisance for his plans. It was about 4 inches thick and 3 ft tall when it was uprooted. After Rose removed it, he gave it to David Franklin Hall, who co-owned the property where the Grapevine Arbor is now. It was called the Grape Vine Property, as this portion of land had been part of the Mission’s four vineyards, (before Mexico secularized the missions). Their other vineyards were nearby, east/northeast of the Mission.

Though this cutting was said to be a “wild grape vine” that came from a canyon, it was not a native California grapevine. To verify this, the vine was tested twice: in 2007 by Spanish researchers, and in 2013 by UC Davis. The results were the same: it was a European vine, which was introduced by the Spanish in the late 1700s. More popularly known as the “Mission grape", it originated in the Castilla-La Mancha region of Spain, known as Listan Prieto (vitis vinifera).

There is a second Mission grape (version 2.0), which is a hybrid, a cross of Listan Prieto and a native Californian varietal. Crossing these two was an arduous task: it involved grafting the branches of the European grapes onto the roots of the North American vine. Eventually, growers would favor the hybrid, and it eventually replaced the former. It was used extensively by the missions, and more so by others when commercial winemaking took off in the 1830s. It is believed that hybridization occurred at or near Mission San Gabriel.

At Olvera Street (formerly called Wine Street), vines growing from the Pelanconi house and the Avila Adobe meander their way above the shops, having survived for some 200 years. The cuttings were likely planted after 1818, grown for shade instead of wine. These may have been supplied by the Mission. To determine the variety, these were also tested. The findings revealed that these vines are the hybridized version.

In recent years, local winemakers have been harvesting the grapes from the vines inside the Mission grounds, as well as from the Avila adobe, to make the historic Angelica wine. Yields are minimal, so prices are dear. San Antonio Winery still sells this wine, though their grapes are harvested elsewhere.

For more L.A. wine history, see “Olvera St”.

Vanessa C.

This is a very nice venue spot by the San Gabriel Mission. The spot is large for a big gathering. There is a tented area but I am not sure if the tent is always there or if it was rented when I went. The only downside is the parking.

Sylvia Z.

Nice venue. Fenced in for privacy. Restrooms are nearby. Large lawn area and a shady arbor. Parking can be a challenge and a parking fee is required if there are other community events being held at the same time

Divs D.

Attended a wedding here. The place is so nice.

Santos Z.

Celebrate an early Christmas party

Jimmy H.

Charming n historical. Offer venue for various types of events.

Huy T.

Unexpectedly nice and interesting. It had an extremely old grape vine like 150 years old or something it’s huge but we were there at the wrong time of year to see it in it’s full glory.

Sergio S.

We held my nephew's wedding there it was the best