Winery Story
Buena Vista
When Jean-Charles Boisset acquired Buena Vista Winery in 2011, the historic Sonoma property was perilously close to being lost altogether. Founded in 1857, Buena Vista is California’s oldest premium winery, yet decades of neglect—and structural damage from the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake—had left its stone château and cellars condemned and crumbling. Restoring the site would require not just significant capital, but a long view: a commitment to rebuilding history rather than merely refurbishing a brand.
The Count of Buena Vista
Few Napa and Sonoma properties have experienced a life as turbulent as Buena Vista’s. The winery’s founder, Agoston Haraszthy de Mokesa—self-styled as the “Count of Buena Vista”—was a figure of enormous ambition, restless curiosity, and, ultimately, tragic fate. His death in Nicaragua in 1869, reportedly by crocodiles, remains one of the more macabre footnotes in...
Winery Information
Region: USA, California, Sonoma County
Address: 18000 Old Winery Road, Sonoma, CA 95476
Open for Tastings: Yes
Major Grapes: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
Vineyard Size: 650 acres
Own Winery: Yes
DTC Mailing List: Yes
Vineyard Sustainability: NA
Year Established: 1857
Owner: Jean-Charles Boisset
Winemaker: Brian Maloney
Website: https://buenavistawinery.com/
Most Recent Reviews for this Winery
Published: January 2026