French Hill Winery - About Us & Local History

History

French Hill

French Hill is one of four highland areas near the town of Mokelumne Hill, the others being Stockton Hill, Sport Hill and Negro Hill.

French Hill owes its name to the French trappers who roamed the red clay and gravelly slopes of Calaveras County in the 1840s. Once set upon the hunting of fur bearing animals, their attention was diverted to gold mining in 1845 - three years before the discovery in Coloma that sparked the Gold Rush. This taste of fortune would be short-lived as the era ended abruptly in the 1850s when the placer reserves of the precious ore were mostly depleted.

Winemaking in Calaveras County

From its inception, Calaveras County was a multicultural society with large numbers of immigrants from France, Italy, Germany, China, Mexico and Chile as well as old-stock Americans. While all nationalities were responsible for developing the local wine industry, the Italians had been recognized for their strides in wine production as far back as the mid-1860s. Even after the heyday of viticulture in the 1870s, Italians continued to be heavily identified with the wine industry

Today, by specializing in Italian varietals, French Hill Winery proudly follows the legacy established by the Italian vintners who helped pioneer commercial winemaking in Calaveras County.

Mokelumne Hill

Founded in 1848, "Moke Hill", as the locals call it, was among the richest of the digs. Claims in some areas were confined to sixteen square feet and many fortunes were made. It was the county seat in the early days and, although it held no exclusive rights, it was known as one of the most violent, bawdy towns in the Mother Lode.

After rich deposits of gold were found beneath the lava flows near Big Bar on the Mokelumne River, the neighboring "tent city" of Mokelumne Hill provided food, lodging and supplies to an influx of miners. The town became the largest organized community in the Sierra Foothills by 1850 and was awarded the county seat in 1852.

At its peak, Mokelumne Hill thrived as one of the richest camps in the Mother Lode, offering numerous hotels, saloons, stores, offices, social clubs, schools and churches. Like most gold rush towns, its early buildings were constructed of wood and eventually succumbed to a series of rampant and furious fires. While vestiges of Mokelumne Hill's colorful past may be found within a few remaining stone and brick buildings, the quiet village of today bears little resemblance to the rowdy boomtown of the 1850s and '60s, however many of the original buildings are still in place and an air of Gold Rush authenticity exists.

Phone: (209) 286-1800 | Fax: (209) 286-1434 | wine@frenchhill.com