Today I share with you the history of Cucamonga’s Sanchez Winery as written by friend of the vine Dr. Loren Sanchez, retired Superintendent of Upland Unified School District.
Sanchez Winery was founded in 1931 by Hipolito Sanchez and his son Poli. Hipolito (Loren’s grandfather) immigrated from Spain in 1910. Six years later, in 1916, his wife and two children immigrated settled in the Cucamonga area.
After working in several wineries in the area, Hipolito decided to embark on developing and building his own winery. This included acquiring vineyards in the area east of Haven Avenue. The rock wall wine cellar was completed in 1933. Being five feet below the ground level helped to keep the wine storage area cool even in the summer months.
Beside the cellar, several other buildings were added to make the winery a complete self-contained wine making facility. These included: the fermenting room. bottling room, still tower and boiler room, barrel room, a bonded brandy room, office, retail room and laboratory.
The complex was in a 10-acre citrus grove on Turner Avenue (now Hermosa). The family residence and a small home for a worker also were located on the site.
The wine was bottled under one of three labels: Salamanca, Cucamonga Peak and Cucamonga Beauty.An array of selections was produced at the winery including Zinfandel, Burgundy, Tokay, Port, Sherry, Muscatel and grape brandy were available for purchase whether on site, delivered to a store or tavern. Shipments were even made to New York City.
Sanchez
Winery continued to flourish for 30 years until Hipolito decided to
retire in 1962. Poli had left the wine business to pursue a career in
construction where he applied his vast knowledge of winery operation in
construction projects at some of the local wineries.
Thank
you to Dr. Loren Sanchez for his contribution. George Schilens was the
artist who created the painting of the Sanchez Winery for the family.
Loren and George worked together for many years at the Upland School
District.
Gino L. Filippi is wine writer for Foothills Reader. Gino can be reached at ginoffvine@aol.com.
