Italian Swiss Colony

Italian Swiss Colony is a winery in Asti, California that featured massive storage facilities capable of holding 100 million gallons of wine, spacious picnic grounds, and replica Italian villa buildings. The property was dominated by large European-style structures and open areas designed for public visits and celebrations.

Andrea Sbarboro founded the winery in 1881 to create employment for Italian immigrants from San Francisco through grape cultivation and wine production. The facility grew into a significant economic center for communities with Italian and Swiss roots in the region.

The winery displayed Italian and Swiss traditions through its architecture, marketing materials, and how it presented itself to the public. Visitors could see this cultural blend reflected in nearly every aspect of the property.

The winery is located along Highway 101 between Healdsburg and Cloverdale, making it accessible from both towns. The grounds were designed generously to allow visitors plenty of time to explore different areas and relax on the picnic spaces.

A particularly remarkable feature was a stone structure built in 1897 situated above an underground vault that could hold 500,000 gallons of wine. This hidden storage capacity allowed the operation to continue functioning during challenging periods.