History of Pope Valley Winery

The Early Years

The area now known as the Pope Valley was originally named for the Indians who lived there, the Locallomes. The first white settler in Pope Valley was Julian Pope, from whom the valley derived its name. Born in Kentucky, as a young man he moved to Mexico where he lived as a hunter and trapper.

In 1830, he visited the Mexican town of San Diego for the purpose of procuring supplies and was arrested because he had violated the Mexican law by entering their county without a passport. He was confined for about a year, when the captain of an American merchant ship which had entered the port, heard of Pope's plight and prevailed upon the Mexican officials to release him.

In 1836, he emigrated with his family to Los Angeles and in 1841 he obtained a land grant to what is now Pope Valley from the Mexican government, and brought his family to Napa County. The grant was approximately six miles long and three miles wide. Julian and his family built an adobe homestead and named it Rancho Locallome. The governor signed his grant, affixed the government seal, Julian Pope paid the twenty-five cent fee and became owner of Pope Valley.

The earliest recorded settlers arrived to the Pope Valley was in 1843. The main industry in Pope Valley was raising stock, cattle, horses, sheep & hogs being the principal sources of income. Grizzly bears were the worst pest to which the stockmen had to contend. The bears would come into the fields and corrals and kill the young livestock. They were numerous till the 1870's.

The Mining Industry

Quicksilver mining in the hills northwest of Pope Valley was a big industry starting in the early 1860's. The first quicksilver mine was discovered by accident. A fire broke out in the hills, and Tom Newman, figuring that the animals would come running out of the woods, took his gun and went out in hopes of killing a dear. While crossing a burned area he noticed some cinnabar. He contacted J. M. Hamilton and the Phoenix Mine was opened, named for the mythological Phoenix bird that rose from the ashes.

This mine proved to be very rich and other mines in the vicinity were discovered. The Oat Hill Mine was an active producing mine for more than fifty years, producing more quicksilver than any other mine in the world. George Fellows located the Aetna Springs Quicksilver Mine in 1897 which proved rich in ore but excessive heat in the mine prevented from being worked extensively. In 1877, Aetna Springs Resort was built becoming a favorite watering spot and retreat for San Francisco socialites.

The Haus Brothers Arrive in California!

In the early 1860’s, three Swiss brothers arrived in the land of opportunity to seek their fortune, Henry, Ed and Otto Haus. Lured to California by the Gold rush, they apprenticed to be blacksmiths to J. McDonald of the Pope Valley. When McDonald left to find gold, Henry took over.

The Haus homestead, below, settled in 1870.

He founded the Henry Haus Blacksmith Shop which was founded in 1897. At this point in history there were very few women in Napa County, let alone in the Pope Valley. Once Ed was able to get established with his blacksmith shop and put together a little money, he sent for the young girl he was in love with. Tradition allowed only the eldest girl to marry first, so to his surprise the family sent not the girl of his dreams, but her older sister Bertha. Both disappointed, they married anyway in 1870 and founded the Burgundy Winery & Olive Factory.

The winery was constructed in 1897 from massive timbers moved down from the Oat Hill Quicksilver Mine. The winery is a three story gravitational flow winery, with hand dug cave. The cave took over 9 years to dig, and the winery was bonded in 1909.

History of the Pope Valley Winery

The Pope Valley Winery was originally the Burgundy Winery & Olive Factory and was managed by Ed Haus. The winery ceased operation during prohibition, but was reopened after its repeal. Ed's children, Sam & Lily Haus operated the winery until 1959.

It was then abandoned until 1972 when the Devitt Family purchased it. It was too difficult a venture for the family and the winery was abandoned again.

Long time Pope Valley residents Jim, Sam, and Henry Eakles, Ralf Gerdes, Manny Gomes and Rodney Young joined together to purchase this historical winery in 1998 and brought new life back into the Pope Valley.

The Winery Today

The Pope Valley Winery is an amazing spot. Twelve beautiful acres are left of the property and adjoining the three-story winery are six structures including a blacksmith shop, wagon shed and original farmhouse. Many of the original tools and equipment still remain within these buildings.

The winery currently produces very high quality hand-crafted single varietal wines. Total production is just under 5,000 cases a year. The winery’s holdings include just over eighty acres of prime Pope Valley Vineyards planted to Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin Blanc, Zinfandel, Merlot, and Petite Verdot.