Buena Vista is California's first premium winery, founded in 1857 by Hungarian immigrant Count Agoston Haraszthy. The original 1862 Press House and hand-dug Champagne Cellars remain a National Historic Landmark, restored by Jean-Charles Boisset in 2011. Tastings unfold on the stone floors where California winemaking began. Winemaker Brian Maloney leads.
Before there were vineyards in every valley north of San Francisco, there was Buena Vista. Founded in 1857 by Hungarian immigrant Count Agoston Haraszthy — California's first great wine visionary — it was the first gravity-flow winery, the first to use hand-dug caves for aging. A California Historical Landmark, the original press house and champagne cellars built in 1862 still stand. Purchased in 2011 by Jean-Charles Boisset, who restored the estate to its original ambition. Today Carneros vineyards supply the estate's top tiers. A living monument to the origins of California wine.
Carneros Pinot Noir, Los Carneros — An elegant, cool-climate Pinot Noir from the estate's Carneros bottling.
Carneros Chardonnay, Los Carneros — A balanced, bright Chardonnay in the same refined Carneros style.
Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma — A bold, structured reserve-tier Cabernet from prized Sonoma and Napa fruit.
The Count Zinfandel, Sonoma — A rich, brambly Zinfandel named for founder Agoston Haraszthy.
Sparkling Brut, Sonoma — A traditional-method sparkler honoring the winery's historic Champagne cellar.
Founded in 1857 by Count Agoston Haraszthy — the "father of California viticulture" — Buena Vista is California's first premium winery, its 1857 stone cellar a State Historic Landmark. Reborn under Jean-Charles Boisset (Boisset Family Estates) since 2011, with winemaker Brian Maloney and consulting winemaker David Ramey, it pours a six-tier portfolio that also includes Merlot, Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc from Sonoma and Napa fruit.
Built in 1862 as the state's first gravity-flow winery, the Press House remains the tasting room — a National Historic Landmark still serving flights from the stone floors where California commercial winemaking effectively began. Under Jean-Charles Boisset's stewardship since 2011, the estate hosts seated tastings, a Wine Tool Museum, sparkling-focused tastings in the Bubble Lounge, and the original Champagne Cellars. Voted Best Winery in the 2024 Sonoma Valley People's Choice awards. A required stop for anyone interested in the origin story of California wine.
Director of Winemaking for Boisset Collection's Sonoma County properties — Buena Vista, Raymond, JCB, and Wattle Creek. Born and raised on his family's ranch in the Petaluma Gap, Maloney earned his viticulture and enology degree from UC Davis and worked harvest stints in Sonoma and Napa before joining the Boisset team. He oversees the winemaking program at California's oldest premium winery — founded by “Count” Agoston Haraszthy in 1857, restored and reborn under Jean-Charles Boisset's stewardship in 2011 — alongside consulting winemaker David Ramey. The portfolio is intentionally broad: a six-tier program that includes Carneros estate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the Count's Selection range, the Sheriff of Buena Vista Zinfandel and Petite Sirah collection, the Private Reserve Cabernet, traditional-method sparkling, and a Heritage Collection that includes Sherry and historic varietals nodding to the Count's original 487-variety viticultural laboratory. The 1862 stone Press House and hand-dug Champagne Cellars — both California Historical Landmarks — remain the production and hospitality center.
Agoston Haraszthy founded Buena Vista in 1857, earning his self-styled title as the ‘Count of Buena Vista’ and a lasting reputation as a father of California’s commercial wine industry. A flamboyant Hungarian aristocrat and tireless promoter, he dug deep stone aging caves into the Sonoma hillsides, championed European grape varieties, and helped spread viticulture across the young state. His pioneering work at this Sonoma estate predated nearly every other California winery still operating today. Haraszthy left for Nicaragua in 1868 and died there in 1869, but the historic property he built endures as California’s oldest commercial winery.
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Carneros Pinot Noir, Los Carneros — An elegant, cool-climate Pinot Noir from the estate's Carneros bottling.
Carneros Chardonnay, Los Carneros — A balanced, bright Chardonnay in the same refined Carneros style.
Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma — A bold, structured reserve-tier Cabernet from prized Sonoma and Napa fruit.
The Count Zinfandel, Sonoma — A rich, brambly Zinfandel named for founder Agoston Haraszthy.
Sparkling Brut, Sonoma — A traditional-method sparkler honoring the winery's historic Champagne cellar.
Founded in 1857 by Count Agoston Haraszthy — the "father of California viticulture" — Buena Vista is California's first premium winery, its 1857 stone cellar a State Historic Landmark. Reborn under Jean-Charles Boisset (Boisset Family Estates) since 2011, with winemaker Brian Maloney and consulting winemaker David Ramey, it pours a six-tier portfolio that also includes Merlot, Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc from Sonoma and Napa fruit.
Before there were vineyards in every valley north of San Francisco, there was Buena Vista. Founded in 1857 by Hungarian immigrant Count Agoston Haraszthy — California's first great wine visionary — it was the first gravity-flow winery, the first to use hand-dug caves for aging. A California Historical Landmark, the original press house and champagne cellars built in 1862 still stand. Purchased in 2011 by Jean-Charles Boisset, who restored the estate to its original ambition. Today Carneros vineyards supply the estate's top tiers. A living monument to the origins of California wine.
Built in 1862 as the state's first gravity-flow winery, the Press House remains the tasting room — a National Historic Landmark still serving flights from the stone floors where California commercial winemaking effectively began. Under Jean-Charles Boisset's stewardship since 2011, the estate hosts seated tastings, a Wine Tool Museum, sparkling-focused tastings in the Bubble Lounge, and the original Champagne Cellars. Voted Best Winery in the 2024 Sonoma Valley People's Choice awards. A required stop for anyone interested in the origin story of California wine.
Director of Winemaking for Boisset Collection's Sonoma County properties — Buena Vista, Raymond, JCB, and Wattle Creek. Born and raised on his family's ranch in the Petaluma Gap, Maloney earned his viticulture and enology degree from UC Davis and worked harvest stints in Sonoma and Napa before joining the Boisset team. He oversees the winemaking program at California's oldest premium winery — founded by “Count” Agoston Haraszthy in 1857, restored and reborn under Jean-Charles Boisset's stewardship in 2011 — alongside consulting winemaker David Ramey. The portfolio is intentionally broad: a six-tier program that includes Carneros estate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the Count's Selection range, the Sheriff of Buena Vista Zinfandel and Petite Sirah collection, the Private Reserve Cabernet, traditional-method sparkling, and a Heritage Collection that includes Sherry and historic varietals nodding to the Count's original 487-variety viticultural laboratory. The 1862 stone Press House and hand-dug Champagne Cellars — both California Historical Landmarks — remain the production and hospitality center.
Agoston Haraszthy founded Buena Vista in 1857, earning his self-styled title as the ‘Count of Buena Vista’ and a lasting reputation as a father of California’s commercial wine industry. A flamboyant Hungarian aristocrat and tireless promoter, he dug deep stone aging caves into the Sonoma hillsides, championed European grape varieties, and helped spread viticulture across the young state. His pioneering work at this Sonoma estate predated nearly every other California winery still operating today. Haraszthy left for Nicaragua in 1868 and died there in 1869, but the historic property he built endures as California’s oldest commercial winery.
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