<P> The History of American wine began when the first Europeans explored parts of North America, which they called Vinland because of the profusion of grape vines found there . However, settlers would later discover that the wine made from the various native grapes, had flavors which were unfamiliar and which they did not like . This led to repeated efforts to grow familiar Vitis vinifera varieties . The first vines of Vitis vinifera origin were planted in Senecu in 1629, which is near the present day town of San Antonio, New Mexico . </P> <P> However, the discovery in 1802 of the native Catawba grape led to very successful wine - making in Ohio . By 1842 Nicholas Longworth was growing 1,200 acres (4.9 km) of Catawba grapes and making the country's first Sparkling wine . In 1858, The Illustrated London News described Catawba as "a finer wine of the hock species and flavor than any hock that comes from the Rhine" and wrote that sparkling Catawba "transcends the Champagne of France ." But the successful operations in Ohio ceased when fungus disease destroyed the vineyards . Some growers responded by moving north to the shores of Lake Erie and its islands, where mildew was not a problem . The Finger Lakes region of New York State developed a successful wine - making industry beginning in the early 1860s when the Pleasant Valley Wine Company began using carefully selected derivatives of native grapes to produce wine . In 1865 the Urbana Wine Company (which marketed its wine under the Gold Seal label) was established . In 1872, O - Neh - Da Vineyard was established by the late Bishop Bernard McQuaid, on the shores of Hemlock Lake, to make pure grape wine for his churches . 1880 saw the establishment of the Taylor Wine Company . By the late 19th century, wines from the Finger Lakes were winning prizes at wine tastings in Europe . </P> <P> In California, the first vineyard and winery was established by Spanish Catholic missionaries in 1769 . California has two native grape varieties, but they make very poor quality wine . Therefore, the missionaries used the Mission grape, which is called Criolla or "colonialized European" in South America . Although a Vitis vinifera, it is a grape of "very modest" quality . The first secular vineyard was established in Los Angeles by an immigrant from Bordeaux, Jean - Louis Vignes . Dissatisfied with the Mission grape, he imported vines from France . By 1851 he had 40,000 vines under cultivation and was producing 1,000 US barrels (120,000 L) of wine per year . </P> <P> Major wine production shifted to the Sonoma Valley in northern California largely because of its excellent climate for growing grapes . General Mariano Vallejo, former commander of the presidio of Sonoma, became the first large - scale winegrower in the valley . In 1857, Agoston Haraszthy bought 520 acres (2.1 km) near Vallejo's vineyards . In contrast to Vallejo and most others, Haraszthy planted his vines on dry slopes and did not irrigate them . Today, the value of dry farming to creating superior wine is generally recognized . </P>

Who planted the first vitis vinifera in the u.s. colonies