Ultimate California Wine Blog

Bartholomew Park Winery, often referred to simply as "BartPark," has quite a bit of history going for it. Now there are some wineries worth going to for the historical ambience and sheer aura of age. Fortunately, BartPark has the aura, the history, and good wine going for it.

Truly, this establishment can be considered the birthplace of the California wine industry and being a huge history buff, I appreciated the museum housed within the building. Along with the museum displays, there is a great deal of information on the local viticultural heritage and a wall of pictures devoted to Sonoma growers. It is one of the few places in either valley that celebrate more than the owners. Throughout the museum, there are displays which honor the vineyard worker and the growers wall truly immortalizes the farmers who provide the grapes.

The father of the California wine industry was Count Agoston Harasazthy who planted grapes on this property as early as the 1830s. The buildings on the property were Agoston’s personal mansion and the estate was named Buena Vista. (To clarify a point of confusion, "Buena Vista Winery," which will be reviewed at a later time, was part of the original estate and contained the wine-making facilities. The buildings that now house Bartholomew Park were Haraszthy’s ancestral home.)

As you continue through the museum, you learn that after it was a winery, the estate was acquired by a women, Kate Johnson, at the turn of the last century who shared the property with 200 Agoura cats. Most interestingly, under the auspices of the State of California, it became the State Farm for Delinquent Women and housed "women of disrepute." Much of the layout of the building as a sort of hospital is still visible.

Behind the tasting bar, where the wine is stored, is an elevator lift to the second floor, a sort of hospital ward, the skeleton of which is still visible. Right as you enter the tasting room, immediately on your right, is a large wooden door with an elaborate lock and key. Behind that door is a hidden stairwell which leads to what was the morgue. If you are lucky enough to visit the winery on a day when one of the pouring staff are available to show you around (as it is not part of the regular tour), there are a number of amazing stories of ghosts…

It seems back when the building was the home for fallen women, one particular women named Madeleine kept trying to escape. I was told she would sneak out at night, be found by troopers the next day, and was brought back.   This apparently happened a number of times until the occasion when she disappeared and it was thought that Madeleine finally made her great escape.

However, years later when the building was being retrofitted for earthquake compliance, a skeleton was discovered – Madeleine’s skeleton. Many people who have worked there over the years have stories of things they have heard or experienced.

When I have brought friends to visit the winery, they get spooked out by the hallway and framework of the individual rooms upstairs. I get the willies downstairs, looking at the door which leads to the morgue, which is now used as a breakroom and wine storage (gosh, it IS the perfect temperature!)

Now it is back to being a winery, albeit one with lots of backbone and history. Taken over by the Bundschu family in 1994, their winemaker, Linda Trotter, is doing a great job in turning out some very respectable wines:

2003 Sauvignon Blanc, San Lucas Vineyard – From Monterey vineyards, 495 cases produced on a modified lyre trellis. Bouquet of rich, tropical fruit which doesn’t disappoint upon entry where kiwi and pineapple appear on the tongue. A rich, creamy melon continues after the swallow and finishes with a light tang. Very nice and not overly acidic.

2001 Estate Chardonnay – 328 cases. Full overt tangerine nose which, after a bit of swirling, gave way to aromas of an elegant, Oriental spice. I detected a rich mid-palate of star anise. Well structured and not overly oaked or buttered with only 30% malo.

2001 Estate Pinot – Valentine, garnet red color, clear and bright. Aromas of cherry and toffee anticipate rich tastes of dark raspberry and spice. A very long, complex finish.

2001 Apparition – A blend wine of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon and 48% Merlot. 650 cases produced. Allspice, blackberry, and cedar bouquet. A decent mouthfeel but hot and a little tannic gives way to a metallic finish.

2000 Desnudos Cabernet – 354 cases. Mineral and constrained nose. Rich, complex mid-palate but a harsh, acidic finish.

2002 Estate Zinfandel – 200 cases. Orange edge in color. Elegant, caramel nose which is soft and easy to smell. The first taste produces a structured taste with a soft edge. Lovely, candy and cream mint Andes sensation. A very easy wine to drink.

Bartholomew Park ~ 1000 Vineyard Lane ~ Sonoma ~ CA ~ 95476 ~ 707-935-9511