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Welcome to our museum! It will be unique among American museums, for it is housed in one of California's oldest wineries. When
you entered through the front gate, you may have noticed the California Historical Landmark sign recognizing the importance of this establishment in California's early history.
Founded in 1856, by the Uhlinger family from Switzerland, the winery was next purchased by the D'Agostini's in 1911. It has been in continuous operation since before the
Civil War. Even during Prohibition, the winery continued to make limited amounts of wine for sacramental use; they were also able to sell grapes to home wine makers, who were
permitted by law to make small quantities of wine.
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Shenandoah Valley
You might be wondering why this area is called Shenandoah Valley. It's a good question, and can probably be best answered
by reflecting upon the past when settlers from the east first crossed the Sierras during the Gold Rush. It is throught that prospectors from Virginia coming upon this area in the
springtime named this valley after that which they had left behind. The Shenandoah Valley is approximately seven square miles, and lies between the forks of the Consumnes River and
Big Indian Creek.
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