This fall marks the 200th wine grape harvest in Sonoma Valley — a bicentennial milestone for the region long considered the birthplace of California wine.
This fall marks the 200th wine grape harvest in Sonoma Valley — a bicentennial milestone for the region long considered the birthplace of California wine.
Two centuries ago, Father José Altimira and Franciscan friars at Mission San Francisco Solano harvested the first Mission grapes for sacramental wine, planting the seeds of a legacy that thrives today. For locals, the 200th harvest isn’t just history — it’s a living celebration unfolding across the valley.
In 2025, Sonoma Valley declared the “Year of the Vintner,” honoring the artisans behind every bottle. It’s part of a three-year “Sonoma 200” campaign marking the bicentennial.
“This 200th harvest will be a monumental occasion in that we are known as the birthplace of California wine,” says Robyn Sebastiani, executive director of the Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance. “We created a three-year campaign … and decided over three years we were gonna take the time to really highlight all the aspects of Sonoma Valley.”
Last year was the “Year of the Farmer,” celebrating growers. Next year will be the “Year of the Community,” focusing on those who sustain local wine culture. This year shines on winemakers themselves — the people who guide each grape from vine to glass.
The theme has meant a busy calendar. Wineries hosted Friday Night Flights, keeping doors open late for neighbors to sip and socialize. June brought a Sonoma Spritz Soiree by a hotel pool, raising glasses of rosé cocktails. A valley-wide scavenger hunt and community video project added momentum leading into harvest.
200 years in the making
1825 — Father Altimira and Indigenous laborers plant 1,000 Mission vines at Sonoma’s mission. Grapes are harvested for sacramental wine.
1857 — Agoston Haraszthy, later called the “Father of California Viticulture,” founds Buena Vista Winery. In 1861, he returns from Europe with 100,000 cuttings from 350 varietals.
1880s — 1890s — Phylloxera devastates vineyards. By 1897, recovery is strong enough to spark the first Sonoma Valley Vintage Festival, a harvest tradition that continues.
1920—1933 — Prohibition forces most wineries to close. Of more than 200 in Sonoma County, fewer than 50 survive.
1940s — 1970s — The Vintage Festival returns in 1947. By the ’70s, family wineries expand and AVAs such as Sonoma Valley, Carneros and Russian River Valley are established.
Today — Sonoma Valley thrives with global recognition. From Zinfandel to pinot noir, the 2025 harvest is proof of resilience and innovation.
Harvest 2025
The celebrations peak this fall. On Aug. 27, neighbors and winemakers will gather on the steps of Sonoma City Hall, popping bottles of local bubbly at 6:15 p.m. to toast two centuries of winemaking.
“Sonoma Valley is the birthplace of the California wine industry,” Sebastiani says. “The 200th harvest gives us the opportunity to showcase the people who carry on that two-century tradition today.”
The centerpiece comes Sept. 25—27, when the Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival returns for its 128th year. It’s California’s oldest wine festival, dating to 1897, and remains the valley’s most enduring community tradition.
Over three days, Sonoma Plaza will transform into a harvest party with wine tents, food vendors, live music and rituals that blend reverence with revelry.
The grape stomp competition is a highlight, with contestants — including winemakers and occasional celebrities — squishing grapes barefoot in wooden barrels. The festival also features a parade, artisan fair and the annual Blessing of the Grapes, where a priest gives thanks for the vineyard’s bounty.
Saturday night’s Grand Tasting at the Sonoma Barracks will feature more than 50 wineries pouring under the stars. Select wineries will also offer “200th Harvest Flights,” special pours that nod to local history.
Beyond wine, the festival includes a 5K Harvest Fun Run through vineyards, kids’ activities on the Plaza and live bands all weekend. Proceeds benefit the Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Foundation, which supports community programs and charities.
Why it matters
Reaching a 200th harvest is rare anywhere in the world. For vintners, it’s a moment of pride and reflection — a chance to honor generations who came before. Many families have been here for decades, some for more than a century, and see themselves as stewards of a tradition that began in 1825.
For the community, the bicentennial is a collective celebration. It highlights what makes Sonoma special: agriculture, history and small-town spirit intertwined.
Sebastiani says even though this year’s theme honors vintners, it’s ultimately about everyone who calls Sonoma Valley home. “It’s just shining a light on our valley, and there are so many incredible things happening here — people, wine — that I really want people to take notice,” she says. “We all are a community. We take pride in where we are.”
For wine lovers, the 200th harvest is the perfect excuse to raise a glass. Whether you’re strolling Sonoma Plaza during the Vintage Festival or uncorking a Sonoma Cabernet at home, you’re now part of the story.
As the valley’s adage goes, in wine there is truth — and the truth is that Sonoma Valley’s saga is one of resilience, creativity and community. Here’s to 200 years of vino, and a harvest season that honors the past while pressing joyfully into the future.
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