Express staff While much of the region’s agricultural identity has long centered on stone fruits, nuts and tomatoes, grapes and vineyards have remained a consistent — if sometimes overlooked — part of Winters’ agricultural story for more than a century. Though nuts and stone fruits are often what people think of first, vineyards have been part of Winters’ agricultural landscape since the earliest settlers, according to Corinne Martinez, president and chief operating officer of Berryessa Gap Vineyards.
Deep roots along Putah Creek Grape growing in the Winters area dates back to the 1840s, when early settler John Wolfskill began planting along Putah Creek. Historical accounts indicate vineyards were part of early ranch operations even before the town of Winters was established, with grapes used for both winemaking and sale. Over time, commercial wine production declined, though small-scale grape growing and home winemaking continued for decades. A modern resurgence began in the
early 1980s, when Dave Storer opened Winters Winery on Main Street after receiving a permit in 1981. A more sustained revival followed around 2000, when new vineyards were planted for commercial production. Berryessa Gap Vineyards produced its first commercial vintage in 2002, with wines released in 2004, helping to reestablish Winters as a wine-producing region. Additional wineries, including Turkovich Family Wines, followed in the years after.
AVA designation brings recognition A major milestone came in September 2023, when the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau designated the Winters Highlands as an official AVA, recognizing a distinct grape-growing region spanning portions of Yolo and Solano counties. The designation allows wineries to use “Winters Highlands” on labels when the grapes are grown within the region. “As wineries we’re putting the AVA on our bottles now as allowed,” Martinez said. “It has to be grapes from the AVA.” She added that local producers are also be-
Crystal Apilado/Winters Express
The edge of the Coble Ranch vineyard serves as the western boundary of the Winters Highland AVA area. The area spans across Yolo and Solano Counties. ginning to see broader recognition. “I was in Napa, and talking to a lot of people who have heard of it,” Martinez said. “People in Napa know we’re right over the hill.” The AVA has also begun appearing in broader wine publications, including a recent updated California wine map by Wine Folly. Local wineries within the AVA include Berryessa Gap Vineyards, Turkovich Family Wines, Collina de Bella Winery and Fjord Oak Winery, with additional vineyard development underway, including on the Solano County side of the boundary.
A legacy beyond the vineyard In addition to wine production, Winters
has played a significant role in the wine industry through grapevine rootstock. Martinez Orchards, founded in 1969 as the Yolo Hills Viticulture Society, produces disease-resistant rootstock used by vineyards throughout California. The business grew from a partnership between a local grower and wine historian Ernie Peninou, who identified the area’s soil along Putah Creek as ideal for high-quality rootstock. “The best possible soil is along Putah Creek,” Martinez said. While not the largest nursery in the state, Martinez Orchards is known within the industry for premium-quality vines used in high-end wine production. “It isn’t the wine
itself, it’s where it starts,” Martinez said. “It’s the roots.” In February 2025, Martinez Orchards expanded its operations by acquiring Guillaume Grapevine Nursery, a respected producer of certified grapevine plant material. The acquisition broadens the company’s product offerings and production capacity, strengthening its position as a national leader in premium grapevine propagation. Martinez said the expansion underscores Winters’ ongoing role in supporting quality wine production across California.
Looking ahead New vineyard plantings and winery projects continue to emerge in and around the Winters Highlands AVA. Some growers are also selling grapes from the region to winemakers outside the area, expanding the reach of Winters-grown fruit. For Martinez, the focus remains on both quality and awareness. “It’s all about quality in the wine industry,” she said. As Winters agriculture continues to evolve, grapes remain a steady presence — rooted in the region’s history and increasingly part of its future.
EXPRESS
Grapes remain rooted in local agricultural
Solano ag
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Women’s history
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Farm innovations
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