Clayton Vineyards-DeMartini Winery - Clayton, CA
Posted by: 
saopaulo1
N 37° 56.548 W 121° 56.231
10S E 593386 N 4199964
Quick Description: Former vineyard, now the civic center building.
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 1/5/2009 12:23:36 PM
Waymark Code: WM5GVV
Views: 3
Long Description:A plaque on the building reads in part:
Paul de Martini built Clayton Vineyards Winery in 1885 on land
formerly owned ny Joel Clayton, the area's first vintner. An
Austrian stone mason directed construction, using stone quarried on
Mount Diablo and hauled here by wagon teams. This was the second
largest winery in Contra Costa County.
De Martini port, sherry, white claret and zinfandel won state,
national and international recognition. De Martini sherries and
ports won first prizes at the 1904 St. Louis Exposition.
Wine production ended when the 1919 Volstead Act prohibited
alcoholic beverage sales. De Martini wine making did not resume
when Prohibition ended in 1933. Phylloxera blighted vineyards had
been replanted with orchards that were subdivided for housing after
water service came to Clayton in the early 1950's. The winery was
used for storage and as a residence before the city acquired the
property in 1988.
Innovative engineering and creative design saved the historic
structure and enabled the city to adapt it for functional use and
community events.
Clayton's Civic Center was dedicated on August 30, 1997.
