Almaden Winery Community Center

The Almaden Winery Community Center (AWC) is located at the Old Almaden Vineyards site which was California’s oldest winery* (est.1852). Here Charles LeFranc made the first commercial planting of European Wine Grapes in Santa Clara Country from cuttings he had brought over from his native France. Almaden Vineyards still exists today but it has relocated to Madera, CA (go to
for more info). The Community Center Building is the old residence building and the actual winery itself is still there, but is fenced off and unavailable for tours, at this time. The AWC received California Historical Landmark status in 1953.
The AWC isn’t open for anyone to just saunter into despite the «Community Center» moniker; it’s only available for party and event rentals (please see my tip or the CSJ website for rental info). The grounds surrounding the AWC have a relatively well-​manicured garden; interesting architecture; and a children’s park (
) There are also some picnic tables on-​site if you want to enjoy a meal at the Vineyards. I visited the AWC during the Winter but need to definitely come back in the Spring; there’s a Rose Garden and Grape Vines that would be really neat to see in full bloom.
Unless you’ve been lucky enough to have hosted, or been invited, to an event at the AWC I would still recommend for you to come down here on a Spring day and enjoy this hidden, and historical gem. The whole thing can be done in about an hour and I recommend you bring a lunch.
*CA State Historical Landmark #505