John Patchett facts for kids

John Patchett (1797–1876) was a very important person in the history of Napa Valley in California. He was the first to plant a commercial vineyard there. He also built the first commercial wine cellar in the region. Patchett planted his vineyard in 1854. He began making wine in 1857. His winery in Napa officially opened in 1858.

John Patchett: A Napa Valley Pioneer

John Patchett was born in Lincolnshire, England in 1797. When he was 20 years old, he moved to the United States. He trained to be a brewmaster in Pennsylvania. A brewmaster is someone who makes beer. However, he could not find work in that field.

In 1820, he married Esther Passmore in Pennsylvania. They started farming. They moved west, first to Ohio, then Illinois, and later Iowa.

Journey to California

In 1850, John and Esther were drawn by the California Gold Rush. Many people moved to California hoping to find gold. The Patchetts moved to a place called Hangtown. Today, this town is known as Placerville. John started mining for gold in the fall of 1850. Sadly, his wife Esther died in November of that same year.

Starting the Napa Valley Wine Industry

John Patchett visited the Napa Valley in 1852. He liked the area and soon began buying land there. His first purchase was 16 acres. Over time, he owned about 200 acres of land.

In 1858, Patchett hired Charles Krug to be his winemaker. This was a big step for the Napa Valley wine industry. After moving to Napa, Patchett married two more times. His second wife, Susannah Quant, passed away in 1862. He then married Martha Bradshaw in 1865.

John Patchett died on August 13, 1876. He is buried in the family plot at Tulocay Cemetery in Napa.