San Antonio Winery
San Antonio Winery | |
---|---|
Location | Lincoln Heights, Los Angeles, California, United States 34°03′49″N 118°13′26″W / 34.0637°N 118.2239°W |
Appellation | California wine |
Founded | 1917 |
Varietals | Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot noir, Sauvignon blanc, Syrah |
Distribution | International |
Website | sanantoniowinery.com |
Designated | September 14, 1966 |
Reference no. | 42 |
The San Antonio Winery is a winery in the city of Los Angeles, and has operated since 1917. It is located in the Lincoln Heights district just eastside of downtown, at 737 Lamar Street just south of North Main Street. The winery also operates a wine shop, restaurant, and banquet hall.[1][2]
Its former vineyards have been developed with dense industry. The winery uses grapes from the 500-acre (2.0 km2) Riboli family farm in Monterey, a smaller Napa Valley vineyard, and contracts with other Californian growers. It produces varietal, table wines, and dessert wines, both red and white. Bottling and distribution are handled at the winery.
Until fairly recently, San Antonio Winery was the only winery that operated within the city limits of Los Angeles. It had held this distinction since Prohibition.
History
In 1917, Santo Cambianica, an Italian man from the northern Italy province of Lombardy, immigrated to Los Angeles and started the winery at its current location. Hoping for good luck, he dedicated the winery to Saint Anthony (in Italian: San Antonio) by naming it as such. When Prohibition was enacted in 1920, Cambianica asked for permission from the Catholic Church to continue operating his winery for communion wine. Granted such permission, he continued the winery's life. The winery has been declared as historical monument #42 in the city of Los Angeles.