This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

The History of Winegrowing in the Foothills of the Santa Clara Valley

The Saratoga Historical Foundation presents "The History of Winegrowing in the Foothills of the Santa Clara Valley" by Wine and Viticulture Historian Charles Sullivan along with a wine tasting. The event will take place on Tuesday, January 22. The presentation and wine tasting will take place at the Immanuel Lutheran Fellowship Hall at 14103 Saratoga Avenue in Saratoga. The lecture will be free and begin at 7:30 PM. The wine tasting will cost $15 and begin at 6:30 PM. The event is open to the public.


A prolific author on California wine, Sullivan will focus on the history of winegrowing on the west side and in the foothills of the Santa Clara Valley with a special emphasis on the Saratoga area. Sullivan is well-known for his interesting stories and opinions about wine, winemaking and promises an entertaining evening.. Sullivan’s book, "Like Modern Edens" will be available for purchase and the author will autograph it.


Wine tasting will include the fine wines from Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards, House Family Winery, Guglielmo Winery and The Mountain Winery.

Find out what's happening in Los Gatoswith free, real-time updates from Patch.


Charles Sullivan has been working for over thirty years in the vineyard of California wine history. Named by Leon Adams as "the modern historian of wine in California," Sullivan is the author of:




  • A Companion to California Wine: An Encyclopedia of Wine and Winemaking from the Mission Period to the Present


  • Napa Wine: A History from Mission Days to Present


  • Wines and Winemakers of the Santa Cruz Mountains


  • Like Modern Edens: Winegrowing in Santa Clara Valley and Santa Cruz Mountains 1798-1981

  • (Cupertino: California History Center, 1982) (Los Gatos: D. R. Bennion Trust, 1992) (San Francisco: Wine Appreciation Guild, 1994) (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1998)

    Find out what's happening in Los Gatoswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

    We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

    The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?