• Type: Vineyard / Historic site
• Location: 2300 Jarvis Road, Santa Cruz, CA 95065 (Vine Hill area)
• Region / AVA: Santa Cruz Mountains AVA
• Elevation: ~1,200-1,400 feet (estimated, Vine Hill ridge)
• Soils: (To be documented — likely Franciscan formation, well-drained mountain soils)
• Exposure: Ridge-top location, Vine Hill district
• First planted: Circa 1879, possibly earlier. Reported to be 63 acres.
• Union Vineyard established: 1879 (John Jarvis purchase)
• Major replantings: 1969-1970 (David Bruce), 2006-2008 (U.S. Grant)
• Current status: Producing (~6 acres, Pinot Noir)
• Associated wineries: US-GRANT (2004-present), SANTA-CRUZ-MOUNTAIN-VINEYARD (1974-2003), DAVID-BRUCE-WINERY (1968-1974)
• Associated people: John Waite Jarvis (founder 1879-1892), Henry Bull Jarvis (son, heir 1892-1935), Joe Locatelli (1935-1968), DAVID-BRUCE (1968-1974), Ken Burnap (1974-2004), Nat Simons & Laura Baxter-Simons (2004-present)
• Historical significance: Continuously-farmed vineyard site with documented history from 1879; Civil War-era "Union Vineyard" name revived in modern era

Union Vineyard is a historic vineyard site with continuous documented viticulture from 1879 to present (145+ years). Located on Jarvis Road in the Vine Hill district of Santa Cruz Mountains, the property was purchased by John Jarvis in 1879 and named "Union Vineyard" as a patriotic reference to the Union cause during the post-Civil War era. Note: Many local histories claim that the vineyard was first planted in 1863, but this date refers to the wider Vine Hill Rancho, established by the Jarvis brothers starting in 1863 and probably located South and West of Union. Sullivan and others state that the Union vineyard property was first purchased in 1879, and it has not been verified if there was any existing planting.

The vineyard has passed through distinct ownership eras: John Jarvis (1879-~1933) → Locatelli family (~1933-1968) → David Bruce (1968-1974) → Ken Burnap/Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard (1974-2003) → Nat & Laura Simons (plus others) /U.S. Grant (2004-present).

Currently owned by the Simons and US-GRANT winery, the vineyard was completely replanted (2006-2009) to approximately 6 acres of Pinot Noir. The modern owners explicitly revived the historic "Union Vineyard" name, honoring the site's 1870s-era heritage.

Before 1879, the land was part of the wider Vine Hill Rancho, believed to have been located west and south of the current Union Vineyard site. Records from this period are fragmentary, but the area was known for agricultural use including viticulture.

In 1879, John Waite Jarvis (born ~1832) purchased the property and established it as "Union Vineyard".

The "Union Vineyard" Name:

The name "Union Vineyard" likely reflected:

• Post-Civil War patriotism (Union victory in 1865)
• Common practice of naming properties after Union causes/figures
• California's strong Union sympathies during and after the war
• The vineyard was establishing its identity during the Reconstruction era

John Waite Jarvis Era (1879-1892):

John Waite Jarvis operated Union Vineyard from 1879 until his death in 1892 at age 60. During his 13 years of ownership, the property was established as a working vineyard. Details of production, varietals, and operational practices during this period are not fully documented.

Henry Bull Jarvis Era (1892-1938):

Upon John Waite Jarvis's death in 1892, the property was inherited by his son, Henry Bull Jarvis (born ~1872). Henry Bull Jarvis operated Union Vineyard for 43 years through extraordinarily challenging periods:

• Late 19th century wine boom and bust (1890s depression)
• Phylloxera crisis
• Prohibition (1920-1933) — Somehow maintained property through 13-year legal wine ban
• Early Depression era (1929-1935)

His mother (John Waite Jarvis's widow, born ~1842) lived until 1936 at age 94, dying one year after Henry Bull sold the property.

Sale to Locatelli (~1935):

Around 1935, Henry Bull Jarvis sold Union Vineyard to Joe Locatelli, marking the transition from the Jarvis family (56 years of ownership, 1879-1935) to the Locatelli era. Henry Bull died three years later in 1938 at age 66.

Around 1935, Joe Locatelli purchased Union Vineyard from Henry Bull Jarvis. This represents the critical continuity layer that preserved the vineyard through:

• Great Depression (1929-1939)
• World War II (1941-1945)
• Post-war agricultural transitions (1945-1960s)

Joe Locatelli farmed Zinfandel on the site through the 1960s. The vineyard was "continuously farmed before and after Prohibition" (source: Prince of Pinot), making this a continuity site, not a revival site.

Italian-American Survival Pattern:

The Locatelli era fits the classic pattern:

• Italian immigrant family acquiring vineyard land
• Surviving Prohibition through grape sales, home winemaking, sacramental channels
• Maintaining production vineyards (not showplace estates)
• Focus on Zinfandel (dominant Italian-American variety)

The Joe Locatelli Bridge:

By the early 1960s, Joe Locatelli was actively farming the site. DAVID-BRUCE began buying Zinfandel from Joe Locatelli before eventually purchasing the property.

In 1968, DAVID-BRUCE purchased around 23 acres of the property from Joe Locatelli. The remainder, primarily apple orchards, appears to have been eventually sold to developers, and houses were built on the land. One home owner subsequently planted a small Pinot Noir vineyard named Alberti Vineyard on their portion.

The Great Replanting (1969-1970):

Bruce made a bold decision: remove the old Zinfandel and replant to Pinot Noir (Wente selection). This was part of Bruce's vision for Santa Cruz Mountains as Pinot Noir territory.

Significance:

• Demonstrated the site could support premium Pinot Noir
• Shifted vineyard from Italian-American Zinfandel to Burgundian model
• Proved site quality across varietal changes

In 1974, Ken Burnap purchased Union Vineyard and founded SANTA-CRUZ-MOUNTAIN-VINEYARD. The Bruce Pinot Noir plantings became the estate vineyard for nearly 30 years.

The "Jarvis Vineyard" Name:

Burnap called the estate vineyard "Jarvis Vineyard" in honor of JOHN-WAITE-JARVIS and the Jarvis family heritage (1879-1935). This name appeared on Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard wine labels and marketing materials, explicitly connecting the modern winery to the site's 19th-century founders. The property address remained 2300 Jarvis Road.

Quality Reputation:

Under Burnap and winemaker Jeff Emery (from 1981), the vineyard established a strong reputation for mountain-style Pinot Noir, proving site continuity and quality.

End of Era (2003):

When Burnap retired in 2003, the operation split:

• Jeff Emery purchased the Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard brand (continues off-site)
• The vineyard property was sold to Nat Simons & Laura Baxter-Simons

Simons Purchase (2004):

Nat Simons and Laura Baxter-Simons (initially with a consortium of up to 10 other couples) purchased the property in 2004, planning a radically different approach. Wines were made by the consortium under the Vine Hill/Gatos Locos name from 2005-2010. From 2007-2010 a "Vine Hill Vineyard" Pinot was made.

The Simons removed the 30+ year old vines and completely replanted to ~6 acres of Pinot Noir with modern rootstocks and clones. They explicitly revived the historic "Union Vineyard" name from the 1879 Jarvis era, creating a direct connection across 140+ years. No wines were produced in 2011; US-GRANT winery's first commercial vintage was 2012, producing few hundred cases annually from the estate Union Vineyard.

• 1879 — John Waite Jarvis (born ~1832) purchases property from Albert Lay, establishes "Union Vineyard"
• 1879-1892 — John Waite Jarvis operates Union Vineyard
• 1892 — John Waite Jarvis dies at age 60 — Henry Bull Jarvis (son, born ~1872) inherits Union Vineyard
• 1892-1935 — Henry Bull Jarvis operates through Prohibition and Depression
• c.1935 — Henry Bull Jarvis sells to Joe Locatelli
• 1936 — Henry Bull's mother (John Waite's widow) dies at age 94
• 1938 — Henry Bull Jarvis dies at age 66
• 1933-1968 — Joe Locatelli farms Zinfandel and apples
• Early 1960s — DAVID-BRUCE buys Zinfandel from Joe Locatelli
• 1968 — David Bruce purchases Union Vineyard from Joe Locatelli
• 1969-1970 — Bruce replants to Pinot Noir (Wente selection)
• 1974 — Ken Burnap purchases the vineyard from Bruce, founds SANTA-CRUZ-MOUNTAIN-VINEYARD
• 1974-2003 — Burnap/SCMV era; vineyard called "Jarvis Vineyard"
• 2003 — Burnap retires, property sold
• 2004 — Nat Simons & Laura Baxter-Simons purchase property
• 2006-2008 — Complete replanting (~6 acres, Pinot Noir)
• 2012 — "Union Vineyard" name officially revived. US-GRANT first production from replanted vines
• Present — Active production, ultra-small scale

Historical:

• Pre-1968: Zinfandel (Locatelli era, Italian-American model)
• 1969-2008: Pinot Noir (David Bruce Wente selection, carried through Burnap era)

Current:

• Pinot Noir — ~6 acres (primary/sole variety)
• (Specific clones to be documented)

• 2006-2008 replanting: Specific rootstocks and Pinot Noir clones to be documented
• Likely modern Dijon or California heritage Pinot selections
• Chosen for site compatibility, disease resistance, quality potential

• Scale: ~6 acres (micro-estate model)
• Philosophy: Artisanal, hands-on, experimental
• Owners: Nat Simons & Laura Baxter-Simons directly involved
• Organic/Biodynamic: (Status to be documented)
• Yields: Low (quality-focused, micro-production)

• Location: Vine Hill ridge, Jarvis Road, Santa Cruz Mountains
• Elevation: ~1,200-1,400 feet (estimated)
• Topography: Ridge-top location
• Climate: Cool-climate mountain site with marine influence from Monterey Bay

• Soils: (To be documented — likely Franciscan formation common to Santa Cruz Mountains)
• Well-drained mountain soils, likely rocky and low-vigor

• John Waite Jarvis (1832-1892) — Purchased property 1879, established "Union Vineyard"
• Henry Bull Jarvis (1872-1938) — Son of John Waite, inherited 1892, sold to Locatelli ~1935
• Joe Locatelli — Purchased 1935, farmed Zinfandel (1935-1968), sold to David Bruce
• DAVID-BRUCE — Purchased 1968, replanted to Pinot Noir 1969-1970
• Ken Burnap — Owned 1974-2004, SANTA-CRUZ-MOUNTAIN-VINEYARD founder
• Jeff Emery — Winemaker 1981-2003 for SCMV; purchased brand 2003
• Nat Simons — Current owner (2004-present), replanted 2006-2008
• Laura Baxter-Simons — Current co-owner (2004-present)

• US-GRANT — Current owner/producer (2004-present)
• SANTA-CRUZ-MOUNTAIN-VINEYARD — Estate vineyard 1974-2003; brand continues separately under Emery
• DAVID-BRUCE-WINERY — Owned 1968-1974, replanted to Pinot Noir

Current:

• U.S. Grant Union Vineyard Pinot Noir — Estate wine from ~6 acre vineyard

Historic:

• Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard Jarvis Vineyard Pinot Noir (1974-2003)
• David Bruce Union Vineyard/Vine Hill Pinot Noir (1970s vintages)

Union Vineyard has continuous documented viticulture from 1879 to present (145+ years):

Timeline:

1. John Waite Jarvis (1879-1892, 13 years)
2. Henry Bull Jarvis (1892-1935, 43 years)
3. Joe Locatelli (1935-1968, 33 years)
4. David Bruce (1968-1974)
5. Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard/Burnap (1974-2003)
6. U.S. Grant/Simons (2004-present)

What This Demonstrates:

• California vineyard site quality can persist across 145+ years
• Same location supports multiple viticultural philosophies and varieties
• Continuity through major industry transformations (Prohibition, post-war, modern era)

The revival of the 1879 "Union Vineyard" name is historically significant:

Original Era (1879):

• Named by John Jarvis during Reconstruction/post-Civil War era
• Reflects Union patriotism common in California naming
• Establishes property identity

Modern Revival (2006-2008):

• Nat & Laura Simons explicitly revived historic name
• Creates living connection across 140+ years
• Rare example of 19th-century place-name preservation

Why This Matters:

• Demonstrates historical consciousness in modern viticulture
• Preserves cultural memory of post-Civil War California
• Shows that place names carry heritage value beyond marketing

Union Vineyard documentation proves the site never died:

Italian-American Continuity Layer:

• Locatelli family sustained vineyard through Depression, WWII, post-war era
• Continuous Zinfandel farming maintained site in production
• Joe Locatelli bridge to David Bruce modern era

Pattern Significance:

• Demonstrates Italian-American families as critical continuity layer in California wine
• Same pattern seen at other sites (Gemello, Eagle Rock, etc.)
• Under-documented but essential to site survival

Union Vineyard has been completely replanted at least twice in modern era:

1. David Bruce Pinot Noir (1969-1970)
2. U.S. Grant replanting (2006-2008)

Plus likely earlier plantings under Jarvis and Locatelli eras.

What This Shows:

• Site quality is soil/climate-based, not vine-age-based
• Each generation can "start fresh" and still produce quality
• Demonstrates site over vines in terroir expression

Union Vineyard's history clarifies important geographic distinctions:

Two Separate Properties:

• Union Vineyard (2300 Jarvis Road) — John Jarvis 1879 purchase
• VILLA-FONTENAY (separate location) — Mel family estate, no known connection

Vine Hill as District, Not Single Property:

• Vine Hill encompasses multiple historic vineyard properties
• "Vine Hill Rancho" (pre-1879) was wider area west and south of Union
• Important to distinguish individual properties within district

This correction is crucial for accurate wine history documentation.

• Ownership: Nat Simons & Laura Baxter-Simons (US-GRANT winery)
• Production: Active (~6 acres)
• Varietals: Pinot Noir (primary/sole)
• Fruit destination: Estate wines for U.S. Grant label
• Production volume: Very small (few hundred cases)
• Model: Micro-estate, artisanal, historically-focused
• Replanting: 2006-2008 (vines currently ~16-18 years old)

• Full biography: Born ~1832, died 1892 at 60. Where was he from? Previous occupation?
• Why "Union Vineyard" specifically? Direct documentation of naming rationale?
• Operational details: Production volumes, varietals, wine styles
• Family: Wife's name (died 1936 at 94)? Other children besides Henry Bull?
• Relationship to JOHN-WAITE-JARVIS of Jarvis Brothers/Vine Hill? Same person or different family branch?

• Full biography: Born ~1872, died 1938 at 66. Education? Family?
• Confirm father-son relationship to John Waite (strongly implied but not explicit)
• Operational details during 43-year tenure
• How did property survive Prohibition (1920-1933)? Critical question - grape sales? Abandoned? Home wine?
• Why did he sell ~1935? Age (63)? Depression economics? No heirs?
• Exact sale date to Locatelli — Which year 1934-1936?
• Did he have children? Or was property his last major asset?
• Where did he live 1935-1938 after sale?

Research strategy:

• Santa Cruz County Recorder deed chain for 2300 Jarvis Road
• Probate records for John Waite Jarvis (1892) and Henry Bull Jarvis (1938)
• Death certificates for both
• Census records 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930 for Jarvis family

• Exact purchase date: ~1935, but confirm specific year
• Who was Joe Locatelli? Background, how did he come to purchase?
• Relationship to other Locatelli families (Eagle Rock Winery, etc.)?
• Production model: Grape sales, winemaking, or both?
• Zinfandel clone: What Zinfandel was planted? Any surviving cuttings?
• Property boundaries: Same parcels as current site or different configuration?

• Exact location: Where was Vine Hill Rancho relative to Union Vineyard?
• "West and south": Can this be mapped to current parcels?
• Any viticulture on Vine Hill Rancho before 1879?
• Relationship to other Vine Hill properties

• Current Pinot clones: What specific clones in 2006-2008 replanting?
• Rootstocks: Which rootstocks chosen and why?
• Vineyard design: Spacing, trellising, irrigation
• Soils analysis: Detailed soil mapping

• Santa Cruz County Recorder — Deed chain for 2300 Jarvis Road (HIGH PRIORITY for Jarvis-Locatelli transition)
• U.S. Grant Winery — Ownership and replanting information
• Historic maps — Showing Union Vineyard and Vine Hill Rancho locations

• Nat Simons & Laura Baxter-Simons — Interview needed for "Union Vineyard" name discovery, replanting, philosophy
• Ken Burnap — SCMV era, site character, property sale decision
• Jeff Emery — Winemaking from vineyard 1981-2003
• Locatelli family descendants — If accessible, for 1933-1968 era

• Prince of Pinot — Source for Locatelli family ownership, Joe Locatelli → David Bruce transition
• Alberti Vineyard history — Locatelli acquisition date reference
• LocalWiki Santa Cruz — Locatelli references
• Late Harvest (1983, Michael R. Holland) — May contain Vine Hill district information

• U.S. Grant Winery: https://www.usgrant.com
• Historic maps: USGS, Sanborn, aerial photos
• California Digital Newspaper Collection: "Union Vineyard," "Jarvis vineyard," "Vine Hill"

• 1879: John Waite Jarvis (1832-1892) purchased property, established "Union Vineyard" (confirmed)
• 1892: John Waite Jarvis died at age 60 (confirmed)
• 1892: Henry Bull Jarvis (1872-1938, son) inherited (confirmed)
• ~1935: Henry Bull Jarvis sold to Joe Locatelli (confirmed)
• 1936: Henry Bull's mother died at age 94 (confirmed)
• 1938: Henry Bull Jarvis died at age 66 (confirmed)
• 1935-1968: Joe Locatelli ownership (confirmed)
• Union Vineyard separate from Villa Fontenay (confirmed)
• Vine Hill Rancho pre-1879, west and south of Union (confirmed)
• 1968: David Bruce purchase from Joe Locatelli (confirmed)
• 1969-1970: Bruce Pinot Noir replanting (confirmed)
• 1974: Burnap purchase (confirmed)
• 2004: Simons purchase (confirmed)
• 2006-2008: Complete replanting to ~6 acres (confirmed)
• Union Vineyard name revival (confirmed)

• 1879-1933 continuous Jarvis ownership (plausible but needs deed confirmation)
• Post-Civil War patriotic naming (logical but needs documentary confirmation)
• Continuous farming through Prohibition (stated in sources, needs detailed confirmation)
• ~1,200-1,400 ft elevation (estimated, needs verification)

• Henry Bull Jarvis = son of John Waite Jarvis — Strongly implied by inheritance pattern and mother's survival, but not explicitly confirmed

• Exact 1935 sale date — "Around 1935" but specific year/month unknown
• John Waite's widow's name — Not documented (died 1936 at 94)
• Varietals under Jarvis — Not documented
• Soil composition — Not analyzed/documented
• Current Pinot Noir clones and rootstocks — Not publicly documented
• Relationship between John Jarvis (Union buyer 1879) and John Waite Jarvis/George Jarvis — Same family or different Jarvis families?

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See Also:

• US-GRANT — Current owner/producer
• JOHN-WAITE-JARVIS — Historical Jarvis family figure (relationship to Union Vineyard buyer needs clarification)
• SANTA-CRUZ-MOUNTAIN-VINEYARD — 1974-2003 estate era
• DAVID-BRUCE-WINERY — 1968-1974 Pinot Noir planting era
• Joe Locatelli — 1933-1968 continuity era (person page to be created)
• Ken Burnap — SCMV founder (person page to be created)
• VILLA-FONTENAY — Separate Mel family property (NO connection to Union Vineyard)
• Vine Hill District — Geographic context
• Vineyard Site Continuity in California — Thematic context