October 2007
Yountville, Calif.--V
Marketplace (formerly Vintage 1870) decks out in Halloween decor
to delight travelers to this former winery where some still feel
the spirit of founder Gottlieb Groezinger.
Nothing quite says Halloween like a ghost. And while there are many known
to haunt the wine caves and cellars of Napa County, Yountville has its own
special brand of ghostly, ghoulish fun each Halloween at the V Marketplace.
This former 1870 circa property built and founded by émigré
Gottlieb (god dear, in German) Groezinger is known as one of
Napa Valley's ghost wineries. Locals are careful to place the
term "ghost winery" inside quotation marks, referring to a
category of wineries that were devastated by a bug infestation
that killed plants at the turn of the 20th century. The
phylloxera louse brought tears and grief to many during a dark
era in American history for vintners. After pests
virtually wiped out the California wine industry, prohibition that
lasted over 10 years from 1920 pretty well assured you wouldn't
see a profit unless you were involved in illegal liquor trade
that occurred along the coast during this dry time. While
America also encountered a depression, Napa Valley was only able
to pull itself up by its bootstraps and rebound decades later by
the determination of skillful craftsmen who knew the
climate was ideal for a wine that could win awards around the
globe.
Though long past, Gottlieb "dear god" must
have been listening when a wrecking ball was slated for
demolition of
the Groezinger winery estate. Local entrepreneurs with plenty of soul and some capital
were able to swing a deal to save the 23-acre Groezinger Estate
during the 1950's, and eventually reopened it as Vintage 1870
shopping complex in 1967. Is it just possible that more
than a few of the high octane spirits reside in this beautiful
property listed on the National Register of Historic Places?
Some say yes. We
interviewed one reporter (prefers not to state her name), who
said there are ghostly spirits in the place. "I've been on
many press trips and have an uncanny ability
without having researched a place to sense spirits of early
inhabitants. Sometimes a person may not have died there, but they haunt
an establishment, house, bar, restaurant, or even a factory," said Diane.
"There definitely are several spirits around this former
winery."
There's no solid evidence
that
ghosts exist at the 137-year old Groezinger building.
But this much is certain, spirits do abound at V Marketplace,
and there's absolutely a haunting mood around October as
decorations such as ghoulish ghost, gravestone and crypt are scattered
among the grass and flowers. If Gottlieb were alive, would
he roll in his grave over the changes to his winery? It's hard
to say, but most believe he'd be delighted. Always an entrepreneur and hotelier, the Wurtmeberg (yes, Kingdom of Wurtemberg)
born entrepreneur learned many useful trades within the span of
a life. His primary talents and interests were in hospitality
and wine-making. Truly ahead of his time, he truly symbolized the theme of Napa Valley
and Yountville today. His winery that once output over 160,000
gallons, now features an upscale shopping venue with surrounding
boutique hotels.
Groezinger lived in Switzerland, New York City, sailed to
Panama, then San Francisco, working in hospitality, mostly as a
waiter throughout those traveling years. In California's Yuba
County he opened a general miners' store till 1854. He then
traveled back to Europe to familiar environs for a
year---visiting Switzerland, Germany and France. Perhaps he was
hatching a plan. When he got back to San Francisco, he brought
with him a couple thousand grape cuttings. In 1858 he
purchased grapes and began manufacturing wine. Expanding his
operations and moving to better grape-growing climate, he
purchased land 60 miles northeast of San Francisco at Yountville in 1871. It didn't take long to
grow not only a winery business, but a family. Within a year of
moving to Yountville, Groezinger was married and began producing
not only fine wines, but a crop of children, as well.
Calling his business
Groezinger Winery, the facility was one of the largest
operations during its day, occupying well over half of the
23-acre estate. Like early ranchos of this era, it was a
self-contained operation, supplying steam power a creamery,
barns, a winery, brandy distillery and estate mansion.
Today the property is
reincarnated as a shopping plaza surrounded by gardens and a
boutique hotel. It includes shops, restaurants and art
galleries. Recently re-named V Marketplace, a change from
Vintage 1870, special events are held throughout the year. But
one of the most beloved seasons is Autumn when the place is decked
out with scary themes. Halloween displays feature giant ghosts,
menacing ghouls and an amazing, ghoulish display brought back from the dead
by Sue Payne of ART OF ILLUSION. Ghostly apparitions loom over
Highway 29 by V Marketplace. The historic retail complex where
you may see a ghost, get a chill up your spine or sip a fine
wine is open daily from 10:00am – 5:30pm. V Marketplace is
located on the Vintage Estate at 6525 Washington Street in
Yountville – Napa Valley. Call: (707) 944-2451. www.vmarketplace.com
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