Historic Preservation Needed

As urban sprawl encroaches upon California's oldest wineries, owners are concerned about the future of their industry.

1 minute read

October 31, 2003, 5:00 AM PST

By David Gest


California's original wine country is not the valleys of Sonoma or Napa – it's Cucamonga Valley, near Los Angeles, where 60 wineries used to flourish on over 35,000 acres. Today, the area consists of "fewer than 800 acres of vineyards and three commercial wineries," largely a consequence of urban sprawl, and pressures to sell land for real estate development. The "50- to 100-year-old vines scattered across the valley's floor are [still] prized within the wine industry for their complex fruit," and may include "some of the original cuttings from the Old World...'If this was a structure, they would have declared it a historical site and prevented this from happening,' said James Wolpert, chairman of the UC Davis department of viticulture and enology. 'You just don't make 100-year-old Zinfandel vines. We are losing a piece of California's heritage.' "

Thanks to David Gest

Sunday, October 26, 2003 in The Baltimore Sun

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Google street view of red brick multi-story power plant building in Pittsburgh, PA.

Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower

A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.

July 4 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Cyclist on protected bike lane in middle of street in Washington D.C. with Washington Monument obelisk visible in background.

Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”

The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.

July 4 - Streetsblog USA

Blue and silver Amtrak train at small station.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train

The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.

July 3 - New Orleans City Business