• Type: Winery
• Status: Active
• Founded: 1933 (officially bonded post-Repeal); operations began 1918
• Region / AVA: Santa Cruz Mountains
• Location: 3535 North Main Street, Soquel, CA 95073
• Founders: Phillip Bargetto and John Bargetto (brothers, Italian immigrants from Piedmont)
• Current Owners: Bargetto family (third generation)
• Winemakers: Current directors of winemaking (names need verification)
• Associated vineyards: Regan Estate Vineyards (40 acres, Corralitos)
• Predecessor entities: South Montebello Vineyard and Wine Company (San Francisco, 1910-1917)
• Federal Bonding: Bonded Winery #3859 (1933)
• Tasting Rooms: Soquel (historic), Monterey Cannery Row
• First commercial vintage: 1933 (post-Repeal)
• Historical significance: Oldest continuously operating winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains; three-generation family operation spanning 93 years; pioneered honey mead production in California (Chaucer's, 1964)

Bargetto Winery is the oldest continuously operating winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains, representing an unbroken 93-year thread of Italian-American family winemaking from Prohibition to the present day. Founded by brothers Phillip and John Bargetto, immigrants from Castelnuovo Don Bosco in Italy's Piedmont region, the winery began in San Francisco as South Montebello Vineyard and Wine Company (1910-1917), relocated to Soquel in 1918 anticipating Prohibition, and officially became Bonded Winery #3859 when Repeal arrived in 1933. During Prohibition, the brothers sustained themselves selling produce and apples while making wine for family and friends in an old barn on the property. The second generation—Ralph and Lawrence Bargetto—modernized the winery in the 1960s-1970s with stainless steel fermentation, barrel aging programs, and added Santa Cruz Mountains varietals like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, while also pioneering California mead production with the Chaucer's brand in 1964. The third generation established Regan Estate Vineyards in 1992 (40 acres near Corralitos), founded Soquel Vineyards in 1987, and continues the family tradition today. With Italian varietal wines under the La Vita label, estate Santa Cruz Mountains wines from Regan Vineyard, and the historic Chaucer's Mead line, Bargetto remains a living connection to pre-Prohibition Italian immigrant winemaking in California.

• 1891 — Phillip Bargetto emigrated from Castelnuovo Don Bosco, Piedmont, Italy, at age 17
• 1909 — Brother John Bargetto joined Phillip in San Francisco
• 1910-1917 — Operated South Montebello Vineyard and Wine Company in San Francisco
• 1917 — Brothers closed San Francisco winery and moved to Soquel anticipating Prohibition
• 1918 — Phillip and John purchased current Soquel site; began making wine in old barn on property
• 1919-1933 — Prohibition era; continued making wine for family/friends while selling produce and apples for income
• December 1933 — Prohibition repealed; brothers applied for federal bonding and officially became Bonded Winery #3859; devoted full attention to wine business
• 1936 — Phillip Bargetto passed away; John became sole owner
• 1940s-1950s — Second generation: John's sons Ralph and Lawrence joined family business
• 1960s-1970s — Lawrence Bargetto introduced modern technology: stainless steel fermentation, barrel aging programs
• 1960s-1970s — Added Santa Cruz Mountains varietals: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
• 1964 — Lawrence created Chaucer's line of meads and dessert-style fruit wines
• 1970s-1980s — Ralph and Lawrence took leadership roles
• 1987 — Third generation: Peter Bargetto, Paul Bargetto, and Jon Morgan founded Soquel Vineyards as separate venture
• 1992 — Established Regan Estate Vineyards near Corralitos (40 acres) for cool-climate varietals
• Present — Third generation Bargettos direct operations; oldest continuous-operation winery in Santa Cruz Mountains

The Bargetto winemaking heritage began in Castelnuovo Don Bosco, a small town in the Piedmont region of northern Italy, renowned for its wine culture. Brothers Phillip and John Bargetto grew up in this wine-centric region, learning traditional Italian viticulture and winemaking.

Phillip Bargetto was the first to depart Italy, emigrating in 1891 at age 17. Like many Italian immigrants of this era, he sought economic opportunity in California, which was building a wine industry that welcomed experienced European vintners.

Phillip established himself in San Francisco during the 1890s-1900s, building the connections and capital that would enable him to launch a winery.

In 1909, John Bargetto joined his brother Phillip in San Francisco, bringing additional family expertise and labor to the winemaking venture.

By 1910, the Bargetto brothers had established the South Montebello Vineyard and Wine Company in San Francisco. This operation ran successfully for seven years, producing wines for the Bay Area market.

South Montebello operations:

• Located in San Francisco (specific address needs research)
• Served urban wine market
• Built on Piedmont Italian winemaking traditions
• Operated during the final years before Prohibition

In 1917, recognizing that Prohibition was approaching, the Bargetto brothers made the strategic decision to:

• Close the San Francisco winery
• Move operations to Soquel, a rural community in the Santa Cruz Mountains

This relocation allowed them to:

• Escape urban scrutiny
• Transition to agriculture (produce, apples) as primary income
• Continue small-scale winemaking for family use
• Position for post-Prohibition revival

In 1918, Phillip and John purchased the current Soquel site, which would become the permanent home of Bargetto Winery. They began making wine in an old barn on the property, establishing the physical foundation that would support 108+ years of winemaking (1918-present).

During the 14 years of Prohibition (1919-1933), the Bargetto brothers employed a dual survival strategy:

Primary Income:

• Sold produce and apples to local customers
• Agricultural sales sustained the business financially
• Maintained property and facilities

Underground Winemaking:

• Continued making wine for family and friends
• Used the old barn for small-scale production
• Preserved winemaking skills and knowledge during dormant period
• Legal under home production allowances (up to 200 gallons/household)

This strategy was common among Italian-American winemakers, who:

• Kept viticulture knowledge alive through family production
• Maintained equipment and facilities in working order
• Positioned for immediate commercial resumption when Prohibition ended
• Preserved traditional Piedmont winemaking techniques

When Prohibition was repealed in December 1933, the Bargetto brothers were ready:

Federal Bonding (1933):

• Applied for federal winery license
• Officially became Bonded Winery #3859
• First winery to emerge from Prohibition in the region (according to some sources)
• One of the earliest post-Repeal operations in Santa Cruz Mountains

Business Pivot:

• Devoted full attention to wine business
• Shifted from produce sales to wholesale wine operations
• Began commercial distribution
• Resumed Italian-style winemaking

This immediate action demonstrated:

• Preparation during Prohibition (maintained skills, facilities)
• Business acumen (recognized opportunity at Repeal)
• Commitment to commercial winemaking (not just family production)

In 1936, Phillip Bargetto passed away, ending the brothers' partnership after 26 years (1910-1936). John Bargetto became sole owner and continued operations through the 1940s and 1950s.

John's sons Ralph Bargetto and Lawrence Bargetto joined the family business during the 1940s-1950s, representing the second generation of Bargetto winemakers in California.

Second-generation role:

• Helped John hold company together during post-WWII era
• Learned traditional Piedmont winemaking from their father
• Positioned to modernize operations as new technologies emerged

In the 1960s-1970s, Lawrence Bargetto led a comprehensive modernization of winemaking operations:

Technology Introduction:

• Stainless steel fermentation tanks — Replaced traditional wooden equipment
• Barrel aging programs — Implemented controlled oak aging
• Temperature-controlled fermentation
• Modern sanitation and quality control

This modernization aligned with the broader California wine revolution of the 1960s, when:

• Vintners replaced wooden equipment with stainless steel
• Many historic wineries operated both technologies side-by-side during transition
• Quality and consistency improved dramatically
• California wines began competing with European imports

Varietal Expansion: Lawrence added Santa Cruz Mountains varietals to the portfolio:

• Pinot Noir — Cool-climate Burgundian variety
• Chardonnay — Premium white varietal
• Continued Italian varietals from family tradition
• Blended Old World heritage with New World innovation

In 1964, Lawrence Bargetto created a revolutionary product: Chaucer's Mead, a line of honey wines and fruit dessert wines.

Chaucer's Development:

• Started with Santa Rosa Plum wine, whose fermentation filled cellars with delicate aromas
• After success, expanded to honey mead
• Made from pure fruit and honey without extracts, flavorings, or additives
• Honey sourced from Northern California hives: orange blossom, alfalfa, sage
• Dessert-style wines (11% alcohol, not fortified)
• Richness similar to fine liqueur

Historical Significance:

• Pioneered California mead production
• Created new category in American wine market
• Demonstrated Bargetto innovation beyond traditional wine
• Chaucer's became nationally recognized brand

Ralph and Lawrence took the lead in the 1970s and 1980s, guiding the winery through:

• The 1970s California wine boom
• Santa Cruz Mountains AVA establishment (1981)
• Increasing competition from new boutique wineries
• Transition to third generation

In 1987, three long-time friends founded Soquel Vineyards as a separate venture:

• Peter Bargetto — Third-generation winemaker, grandson of John Bargetto
• Paul Bargetto — Peter's twin brother, third-generation winemaker
• Jon Morgan — Long-time friend who had worked at Bargetto Winery with Peter and Paul

Soquel Vineyards model:

• Created business out of a hobby
• Peter and Paul gained experience at other wineries before founding Soquel
• Separate from Bargetto Winery but family-connected
• Demonstrated third-generation entrepreneurship

In 1992, the Bargetto family established Regan Estate Vineyards near Corralitos, creating a 40-acre estate vineyard focused on cool-climate varietals.

Regan Vineyard Details:

• Named for: Beverly Regan Bargetto (John Bargetto's mother)
• Location: 50-acre parcel atop hilly knoll, Corralitos area, southern Santa Cruz County
• Planting began: 1992
• Total acreage: Nearly 40 acres planted
• Varieties: Twelve different varieties and clones
  • Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Grigio
  • Merlot
  • Italian varietals: Nebbiolo, Dolcetto, Refosco
• Views: Majestic vistas of Monterey Bay and Santa Cruz Mountains
• Distinction: One of the largest and most diverse vineyards in Santa Cruz Mountains AVA

Family Connection:

• John Bargetto (third generation) found the parcel in 1991
• Discovered during escrow that his father had tried to buy the same property years earlier
• Set up as separate business from Bargetto Winery
• Bargetto Winery is the vineyard's largest customer

Recent Development:

• John Bargetto launched Regan Vineyards Winery as separate small project
• New brand and tasting experience
• Offers vineyard visits, grape-growing education, estate wine tastings

The third generation created La Vita, a wine line incorporating northern Italian varietals from Regan Estate Vineyard, honoring the family's Piedmont heritage while using California fruit.

Bargetto continues as a family-owned, third-generation operation, maintaining its status as the oldest continuously operating winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Current production:

• Santa Cruz Mountains wines from Regan Estate Vineyard
• Single-vineyard estate bottlings
• La Vita Italian varietal blends
• Chaucer's Mead and fruit wines (60+ year tradition)
• Wines sourced from other California regions (Napa, Lodi, Edna Valley)

From Regan Estate Vineyards:

• Chardonnay — Cool-climate, estate-grown
• Pinot Noir — Mountain character, estate fruit
• Pinot Grigio — Italian varietal, estate
• Merlot — Bordeaux varietal, estate
• Single-vineyard bottlings — Showcasing specific vineyard blocks

Northern Italian varietals from Regan Estate:

• Nebbiolo — Piedmont's noble grape
• Dolcetto — Traditional Piedmont red
• Refosco — Northeastern Italian varietal
• Blends honoring family's Castelnuovo Don Bosco heritage

• Chaucer's Honey Mead — Made from orange blossom, alfalfa, sage honey
• Fruit dessert wines — Santa Rosa Plum and others
• 11% alcohol (not fortified)
• No extracts, flavorings, or additives

• Fruit from Napa, Lodi, Edna Valley for additional labels

• 40 acres planted with 12 varieties/clones
• Cool-climate site — Elevation and maritime influence
• Estate-controlled — Separate business, largest customer is Bargetto Winery
• One of Santa Cruz Mountains' largest and most diverse vineyards

• Original property purchased 1918
• Details of current vineyard plantings at Soquel site need research

• Three-generation family tradition from Piedmont Italy
• Estate focus with Regan Vineyard
• Italian varietal preservation through La Vita line
• Innovation with Chaucer's Mead (pioneering since 1964)
• Modernized winemaking (stainless steel, barrel aging) since 1960s
• Blend of Old World heritage and New World techniques

• Address: 3535 North Main Street, Soquel, CA 95073
• Original site: Purchased 1918, operated continuously 108+ years
• Tasting room: Open to public
• Production facility: On-site winemaking
• Historic barn: Original 1918 barn where Prohibition-era family wine was made

• Location: Cannery Row, Monterey, CA
• Purpose: Coastal tasting room for visitors
• Offers: Full portfolio including Santa Cruz Mountains and Chaucer's wines

• Phone: General (800) 422-7438, Wine Club (888) 400-9463
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.bargetto.com

• Phillip Bargetto (1874?-1936) — Co-founder, emigrated from Piedmont 1891
• John Bargetto (Giovanni) (1890?-1960?) — Co-founder, emigrated 1909, sole owner 1936-1960s
• Ralph Bargetto — Second generation, son of John, joined 1940s-1950s
• Lawrence Bargetto — Second generation, son of John, modernized winery 1960s-1970s, created Chaucer's (1964)
• Peter Bargetto — Third generation, twin, co-founder of Soquel Vineyards (1987)
• Paul Bargetto — Third generation, twin, co-founder of Soquel Vineyards (1987)
• Jon Morgan — Co-founder of Soquel Vineyards with Peter and Paul (1987)
• John Bargetto (modern) — Third generation, established Regan Vineyards, launched Regan Vineyards Winery
• Beverly Regan Bargetto — John Bargetto's mother, namesake of Regan Estate Vineyards

• Regan Estate Vineyards — 40-acre estate, Corralitos, established 1992
• Soquel estate — Original 1918 property

• South Montebello Vineyard and Wine Company — Bargetto brothers' San Francisco winery (1910-1917), predecessor
• Soquel Vineyards — Founded 1987 by Peter and Paul Bargetto (third generation) with Jon Morgan
• Regan Vineyards Winery — Recent launch by John Bargetto, separate from main Bargetto Winery

• Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association — Member
• Castelnuovo Don Bosco, Piedmont, Italy — Family's hometown and wine heritage source

Bargetto Winery matters to Santa Cruz Mountains and California wine history for five critical reasons:

Unbroken 93-year commercial operation (1933-present), plus 15 years of family production during Prohibition (1918-1933):

• Federal Bonding #3859 in 1933 marks start of continuous commercial operation
• Same family ownership across three generations
• Same Soquel location since 1918 (108 years)
• Survived Prohibition, WWII, industry downturns, competition from boutique wineries
• Maintained operations when many historic wineries closed or sold

This continuity is extraordinary in California wine, where most pre-Prohibition wineries:

• Closed permanently during Prohibition
• Were absorbed by corporations
• Changed ownership multiple times
• Relocated or ceased operations

Direct transmission of Piedmont winemaking traditions across three generations and 135 years (1891-present):

• First Generation: Phillip and John from Castelnuovo Don Bosco, Piedmont
• Second Generation: Ralph and Lawrence learned from John, modernized while preserving tradition
• Third Generation: Peter, Paul, John continue family heritage

Italian varietal preservation:

• La Vita line features Nebbiolo, Dolcetto, Refosco
• Honors Piedmont heritage in California terroir
• Maintains connection to Castelnuovo Don Bosco origins

Strategic relocation and agricultural diversification enabled survival:

• Anticipated Prohibition (moved 1917, two years before it began)
• Sustained through produce/apple sales (legitimate income)
• Maintained winemaking skills through family production
• Positioned for immediate commercial resumption at Repeal
• First to emerge from Prohibition in the region

This model demonstrates:

• Foresight and business acumen
• Dual-income agricultural strategy
• Preservation of winemaking knowledge during suppression
• Immigrant entrepreneurship and resilience

Lawrence Bargetto's introduction of modern winemaking technology:

• Stainless steel fermentation (1960s) when most wineries still used wood
• Barrel aging programs
• Santa Cruz Mountains varietal expansion (Pinot Noir, Chardonnay)
• Balanced tradition with innovation

Chaucer's Mead creation (1964):

• Pioneered California honey wine production
• Created new American wine category
• Demonstrated diversification beyond traditional wine
• 60+ year continuous production of mead

Successful generational transition is rare in American wine:

• First Generation (Phillip and John): Founding, Prohibition survival, post-Repeal launch
• Second Generation (Ralph and Lawrence): Modernization, Chaucer's innovation, 1960s-1980s growth
• Third Generation (Peter, Paul, John): Regan Estate, Soquel Vineyards spinoff, La Vita launch

Each generation:

• Honored family heritage
• Introduced innovations
• Adapted to changing market conditions
• Maintained quality and family ownership

• Operations: Active winery, tasting rooms, wine club
• Ownership: Bargetto family, third generation
• Production: Santa Cruz Mountains estate wines, La Vita Italian varietals, Chaucer's Mead, sourced California wines
• Tasting Rooms: Soquel (historic site), Monterey Cannery Row
• Federal License: Bonded Winery #3859 (since 1933)
• Vineyard: Regan Estate Vineyards, 40 acres, Corralitos
• Website: https://www.bargetto.com
• Recognition: Oldest continuously operating winery in Santa Cruz Mountains

• Phillip Bargetto biography — Birth/death dates (1874?-1936?), early life in Piedmont, immigration details
• John Bargetto biography — Birth/death dates (1890?-1960?), marriage, family details
• South Montebello location — Exact San Francisco address, production volume, wines produced (1910-1917)
• 1918 property purchase — Price, acreage, existing structures, why Soquel chosen
• Prohibition-era operations — Volume of family wine production, produce/apple sales details, customer base
• 1933 bonding process — Application details, license approval timeline, first commercial wines
• Phillip's death (1936) — Exact date, obituary, estate succession to John
• Ralph Bargetto details — Birth/death dates, full role at winery, wines he made
• Lawrence Bargetto details — Birth/death dates, education, where he learned modern winemaking
• Stainless steel adoption — Exact year, equipment purchased, cost, transition process
• Chaucer's development — 1964 first vintage details, market reception, distribution growth
• Third generation members — Complete family tree, current roles, training
• Regan Vineyard discovery — 1991 purchase story, father's earlier attempt to buy property
• Soquel estate vineyards — Current plantings at original 1918 site, acreage, varietals
• Production volumes — Cases per year across eras, current production breakdown by line
• National Museum artifacts — Tank door and wine bottle label (1940s) currently at Smithsonian—acquisition story
• Awards and recognition — Competition medals, critical acclaim across eras

• Federal bonding records — Bonded Winery #3859 (1933)
• Property records — 1918 Soquel purchase, Santa Cruz County Assessor
• National Museum of American History — Bargetto tank door (object #nmah_1693554), 1940s Malvasia wine bottle label (object #nmah_1693568)
• Business records — If Bargetto family retains historical documents, production logs
• Contemporary newspaper coverage — 1933 bonding, 1936 Phillip's obituary, 1964 Chaucer's launch

• Needed: Third-generation Bargetto family members (Peter, Paul, John) about family history
• Needed: Lawrence Bargetto (if living) about modernization era, Chaucer's creation
• Needed: Ralph Bargetto's descendants or associates
• Needed: Jon Morgan about Soquel Vineyards founding (1987)
• Potential: Long-time employees, community members who remember different eras

• Charles L. Sullivan, Companion to California Wine and other California wine histories
• Santa Cruz Mountains wine region historical publications
• Italian-American immigration and winemaking studies
• Prohibition-era California wine industry studies

• Our History | Bargetto Winery
• Our Wines | Bargetto Winery
• Bargetto Winery Tank Door | National Museum of American History
• Bargetto's Malvasia Label (1940s) | National Museum of American History
• A historic winery, a new project: John Bargetto's Santa Cruz Mountains journey | Laurie Daniel on Wine
• Regan Estate Vineyards Fact Sheet
• John Bargetto launches new venture at Corralitos' Regan Vineyards | Pajaronian
• Thirty years in the making, John Bargetto offers a taste of Regan Vineyards - Lookout Santa Cruz
• The history of Soquel Vineyards - Lookout Santa Cruz
• Our Wines - Chaucer's Meads

• 1891 Phillip Bargetto emigration from Castelnuovo Don Bosco, Piedmont
• 1909 John Bargetto joined Phillip in San Francisco
• 1910-1917 South Montebello Vineyard and Wine Company operations
• 1917 relocation to Soquel anticipating Prohibition
• 1918 purchase of current Soquel site
• 1919-1933 Prohibition-era produce/apple sales and family winemaking
• December 1933 federal bonding as Winery #3859
• 1936 Phillip's death, John became sole owner
• 1940s-1950s Ralph and Lawrence joined business
• 1960s-1970s Lawrence introduced stainless steel fermentation, barrel aging, Pinot Noir/Chardonnay
• 1964 Chaucer's Mead creation by Lawrence
• 1987 Soquel Vineyards founding by Peter Bargetto, Paul Bargetto, Jon Morgan
• 1992 Regan Estate Vineyards establishment (40 acres, Corralitos)
• Oldest continuously operating winery in Santa Cruz Mountains
• Third-generation family operation currently

• Exact dates and circumstances of Phillip's death (1936)
• Complete biography of John Bargetto (birth/death dates need verification)
• South Montebello specific location and production details
• Exact timeline of modernization equipment purchases (1960s general timeframe)
• Complete story of Chaucer's Mead market development (1964-present)
• Regan Vineyard story about father's earlier attempt to purchase property
• Current production volumes by product line

• Phillip's exact birth year (1874?)
• John's exact birth/death years (1890?-1960?)
• Whether Bargetto was truly "first winery to emerge from Prohibition" (needs documentation vs. others)
• Complete list of wines produced in each era
• Exact acreage and plantings at Soquel site (1918-present)
• Ralph Bargetto's complete biography and contributions
• Financial details of operations across eras

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See Also:

• Soquel Vineyards — Founded 1987 by third-generation Peter and Paul Bargetto with Jon Morgan
• Hallcrest Vineyards — Another early Santa Cruz Mountains winery (1941)
• Novitiate Winery — One of the three 1946 Santa Cruz Mountains wineries
• Italian-American Wineries in California — Topic page (future)
• Prohibition Survival Strategies — Topic page (future)
• Santa Cruz Mountains AVA History — Topic page (future)
• Family Winery Succession — Topic page (future)