Sonoma wine history weekend

Sonoma historian George Weber, seen here channeling his alter ego, Sonoma wine legend Count Haraszthy, founder of Buena Vista Winery, is a big part of Sonoma Valley Wine History Weekend, July 27-28.

Events, at Depot Park Museum and Buena Vista Winery, include an art lecture and viewing, live music, and a lecture by Peter Meyerhof on Sonoma’s hosting of California’s first theatrical work. Also, two performances of a new play, written by Webber: Wildcat and Grapevines, about one week in the life of Mark Twain in wine country.

Says Webber, “Every part of this tale is historically accurate, other than those sections completely made up. Historical hilarity ensues!” Various times. Free. Presented by the the Sonoma Valley Historical Society. 

Schedule:

Saturday, July 27 at Buena Vista Winery

12pm to 12:30pm — A free short lecture and art unveiling will take place in the Wine Museum on the third floor of the Champagne Cellars at Buena Vista Winery. Sonoma Historian George Webber will tell the story of the noted Hungarian painter Hungarian painter Ferenc Daday, whose original oil painting featuring Count Haraszthy will be unveiled at the end of the lecture. This painting, and another painting illustrating the double wedding of the Century (when two sons of the Count married two daughters of Sonoma’s General Vallejo on June 1st, 1863) will be unveiled at the end of the lecture. These two paintings are on loan from the Sonoma Valley Historical Society to Buena Vista Winery.

12pm to 2pm. — FREE live music in Buena Vista’s Champagne Courtyard

12pm to 4pm. — Food available for purchase at a food truck in the Champagne Cellars Courtyard. Buena Vista wine available by the glass and bottle for purchase

2pm to 2:45…..FREE performance of a new PLAY in the Champagne Cellars Historic Wine Museum presented by the Buena Vista Players: “Wildcat and Grapevines.” This play, written by George Webber, brings to life one specific week in California’s history. In those 6 days Mark Twain moves from Virginia City, Nevada to San Francisco, and meets with his friends Count Haraszthy and General Vallejo with the intent to swap his wildcat mining stocks for the Count’s Buena Vista Vinicultural Society stock. Every part of this tale is historically accurate…other than those sections completely made up. Historical Hilarity Ensues!

Sunday, July 28 at the Depot Park Museum

1pm to 1:40pm — FREE lecture by noted Sonoma Historian Peter Meyerhof as he describes his new research revealing that the first theatrical presentation in English in California took place in Sonoma.

1:45pm to 2:30pm. — Second performance of the new play “Wildcat and Grapevines” by the Buena Vista Players.