This estate has seen it all: the 1857 start of California's wine industry under Hungarian count Agoston Haraszthy, devastation by phylloxera and bankruptcy, the 1885 castle construction for millionaire philanthropist Kate Johnson and her 42 cats, and its 1919 conversion into a home for "delinquent women" (read: sex workers and addicts) before fires destroyed it. A winery arose from the ashes, and despite fires in 2017 and 2019, these historic, certified-organic vineyards are again producing sauvignon blanc, cabernet sauvignon and zinfandel.
Picnics are allowed, and the estate's sun-dappled private park is free and open to visitors from 10am to 4:30pm, with a 3-mile trail winding through vineyards, oaks, madrones and redwoods. Pass the windmill and pond to reach an overlook with sweeping views all the way to the San Francisco Bay. Weekend tours include a 30-minute walk through the vineyards and tasting ($45).
