How Chinese laborers played an integral part in building Wine Country

RIGHT THERE. REPORTER: THIS 85 YEAR OLD, PAUL, ALWAYS WANTED TO MAKE WINE. >> ABOUT 16 ACRES. REPORTER: HE NEVER EXPECTED TO MAKE HISTORY. >> IT HAS BEEN 42 YEARS, AND THE FAMILY PUT ALL THIS TOGETHER. REPORTER: HE IS THE FIRST CHINESE AMERICAN VENTNOR IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, A LABOR OF LOVE THAT STRETCHES FOR THREE GENERATIONS. >> MY DAD DROVE THE TRACTOR. REPORTER: THE STORY OF CHINESE LABORERS HERE IS EVEN MORE HISTORICAL. >> THIS IS PART OF OUR HISTORY. REPORTER: JACK, A CHINESE AMERICAN, SAYS THE CHINESE WORKERS PLAYED A HUGE PART IN BUILDING CALIFORNIA'S WINERIES. >> BUT WE NEVER SEE THE NAME. THERE IS NO MENTION ABOUT WINE, THE WORKERS, AND LABORERS OR THAT CHINESE IMMIGRANTS. BUT YOU JUST HAVE TO ASK. EVEN THE FIRST THING THAT IS MENTIONED, THAT'S WRONG AND IT IS A SHAME. REPORTER: BUT AT THIS WINERY FOUNDED IN 1857, IT IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE OLDEST WINERIES IN THE STATE. VISITORS IMMEDIATELY LEARN ABOUT THE HISTORY OF CHINESE LABORERS. THEIR STORY PRESERVED ON THE WALLS. >> YOU CAN SEE THE CHINESE WORKER CARRYING MATERIALS ACROSS THE CREEK. THE CHINESE PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN WORKING THE VINEYARDS, WORKING IN THE WINERY, DIGGING OF THE CAVES, AND OUR FOUNDER WAS A BIG PROPONENT OF THE CHINESE WORKERS. >> WE HAVE SEEN ANYWHERE FROM 200-500 WORKERS. IT WAS CONSIDERED THE LARGEST LABOR CAMP NORTH OF SAN FRANCISCO. REPORTER: A PAINTING BY LEE CAPTURES THE ROLE OF THE WORKERS AT THE WINERY. >> THIS IS A VIVID PICTURE THAT PRESENTS A PIECE OF THE HISTORY IN NAPA AND IN SONOMA. REPORTER: ONE PLACE YOU COULD SEE DIRECT EVIDENCE OF THE LABOR OF CHINESE WORKERS IS IN THE CAVES. >> YOU CAN SEE THE PICKAX MARKS FROM THE 1860'S, WHEN THE CAVES W ERE DUG. REPORTER: LIKE THOSE WHO WORKED ON THE TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD, THESE CHINESE WORKERS FACED IMMENSE CHALLENGES. DANGEROUS AND DIFFICULT WORK CONDITIONS, AND DISCRIMINATION. MANY NEVER BECAME U.S. CITIZENS BECAUSE OF THE CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT, WHICH LASTED 61 YEARS. MANY SAY THE STORY OF THE CHINESE WORKER NEEDS TO BE RECOGNIZED AND REMEMBERED. THERE IS AN EFFORT TO HONOR THOSE WHO HELPED DEVELOP THE WINE INDUSTRY IN THE 1800S. THEY ARE RAISING MONEY TO PUT A BIG TRADITIONAL CHINESE PAVILION AT THE MUSEUM IN SONOMA. >> TO HONOR THESE NAMELESS CHINESE LABORERS WHO MADE A CONTRIBUTION 150 YEARS AGO. IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. [WINE CHLORINE] -- PUOURING] REPORTER: AS FOR GEE, HE GROWS THE GRAPES AND SELLS THEM TO THE WINERY NEXT-DOOR. AND HE OFTEN CHECKS IN. >> HE IS A LOCAL CELEBRITY. HE COMES BY ALL THE TIME. REPORTER: DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS ADDED A LOT TO WINE. >> IT SHOWS THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE DIVERSITY IN THE WINE INDUSTRY. REPORTER: ERIC IS DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AT THIS WINERY. >> IF WE WANT WINDS TO GROW HERE AND ABROAD, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS NOT JUST A PRIVILEGED WHITE PERSON'S BEVERAGE. AND IT IS FOR EVERYONE AND BY EVERYONE. SO, UNDERSTANDING THE HISTORY OF IT IS IMPORTANT. REPORTER: IN

Channel: ABC7 News Bay Area

Views: 1,181

Keywords: news, abc7news, abc7, aapi month, napa valley, wine country, Chinese workers, Chinese exclusion act, paul gee vinter, buena vista winery, Chinese winemakers, aapi heritage month, asian American, asian winemakers

Id: hWxpEpF-mAU

Length: 4min 6sec (246 seconds)

Published: Thu May 18 2023