# The Historic Winery | Family Run Winery| Trefethen Family Vineyards

https://www.trefethen.com/learn/place/the-historic-winery

> Informational and promotional history from the winery/operator — useful for factual background about the building and its historical claims, but these are marketing-published statements and should be attributed to Trefethen Family Vineyards when quoted as facts.

## Summary

The page describes the history, architecture, restorations, and importance of Trefethen Family Vineyards' historic winery (originally Eshcol), from its 1886 construction through Prohibition, ownership changes, the Trefethen restoration beginning in 1968, its role with Moët & Chandon in the 1970s, listing on the National Register in 1987, and a post-2014 earthquake restoration led by Hailey Trefethen.

## Audience

general (visitors to the winery / people interested in winery history)

## Prompts this page answers

- What is the history of the Trefethen historic winery (Eshcol) in Napa Valley?
- When was the Trefethen winery building constructed and who designed it?
- What awards and historical recognition has the Eshcol/Trefethen winery received?
- How was the Trefethen historic winery restored after the 2014 South Napa earthquake?
- What role did Trefethen play with Domaine Chandon in the 1970s?

## Purpose

To inform visitors about the historical significance, architectural uniqueness, and restoration history of the Trefethen historic winery and to encourage visits.

## Highlights

- The winery was built in 1886 and commissioned by the Goodman Brothers as part of Eshcol Ranch.
- Designed and built by Captain Hamden McIntyre; it is the only surviving 19th-century wooden three-level gravity flow winery in Napa Valley.
- The winery used an elevator system powered by a horse-drawn winch to move grapes to the top floor.
- Eshcol wines won first prizes at the 1888 California State Viticultural Convention and collected many awards at the 1889 Paris Exhibition.
- Trefethen restored the property after acquiring it in 1968; the winery hosted early commercial harvests for Trefethen and Domaine Chandon in 1973.
- The Trefethen Chardonnay (1976 vintage) was declared “The Best Chardonnay in the World” at the 1979 Wine Olympics.
- The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987 and underwent a comprehensive seismic restoration after the 2014 South Napa Earthquake led by Hailey Trefethen.

## How to cite

Trefethen Family Vineyards — "The Historic Winery" page (https://www.trefethen.com/learn/place/the-historic-winery)

## Publisher

**Trefethen Family Vineyards** — Trefethen Family Vineyards — Napa Valley winery and the site owner/operator (contact details and address appear in the page footer).

## Topics

- Trefethen historic winery
- Eshcol 1886
- Hamden McIntyre gravity-flow winery
- Napa Valley winery history
- 2014 South Napa Earthquake restoration

## Key entities

- **Trefethen Family Vineyards** (organization): Owner/operator of the historic winery and publisher of the page. — https://www.trefethen.com/
- **Eshcol (Eschol) Ranch / Eshcol winery** (other): Original name/location of the 1886 winery commissioned by the Goodman Brothers.
- **Captain Hamden McIntyre** (person): Designer and builder of the historic winery; noted builder of several other Napa wineries.
- **James Fawver** (person): Manager/owner who ran the Eshcol property during the phylloxera period and Prohibition era.
- **Eugene and Catherine Trefethen** (person): Trefethen family members who restored and revived the winery beginning in 1968.
- **Hailey Trefethen** (person): Led the post-2014 earthquake restoration of the historic winery.
- **Moët & Chandon / Domaine Chandon** (organization): Partner that used the winery for early commercial harvests and sparkling wine production beginning in 1973.
- **2014 South Napa Earthquake** (event): Magnitude 6.0 quake that damaged the building and prompted a comprehensive restoration.
- **1979 Wine Olympics** (event): Event where Trefethen's 1976 Chardonnay was declared “The Best Chardonnay in the World.”