Top California Dinner Party Venues

3,280 results near California

Find a Venue

Choosing your dinner party venue will be one of the most important steps in the planning process. So much goes into finding the perfect venue in California. You’ll want to consider everything from the aesthetics of the space to any in-house amenities and services. Luckily, PartySlate makes it easy with our Find Venues page. Use the filters to narrow your search — taking into account everything from your guest count to specific catering preferences. Once you’ve set your filters, scroll down to search our curated list. Look for the “featured” tag for PartySlate’s top recommendations. With PartySlate, finding your ideal California venue has never been easier.

  • Featured photo from Carmel Mountain Ranch Estate

    Carmel Mountain Ranch Estate

    14050 Carmel Ridge Rd, San Diego, CA 92128, USA
    • Spaces for 180 Guests
    • 1 Country Club

    The Carmel Mountain Ranch Country Club is the ideal location for your next conference or event. Weddings, corporate cocktail hours, banquets, meetings, birthday parties, break out sessions, social picnics, and more can all be held in their indoor and outdoor event areas. With access to their indoor Mountain View Terrace Room, Carmel Mountain Ranch Country Club's outdoor locations provide the ultimate open-air experience. The venue's inside ballroom features beautiful décor, extravagant chandeliers, high vaulted ceilings, crown molding, and handcrafted hardwood flooring, as well as 180-degree views of the mountain environment. Carmel Mountain Ranch Country Club's outside gardens provide the best open-air wedding experience for your reception or ceremony, and their wedding staff will make sure your special day is perfect. They provide a number of packages to ensure that all of your requirements are covered. Our indoor and outdoor event facilities are ideal for corporate cocktail hours, dinner meetings, birthday parties, break out sessions, social picnics, and other events. With access to our indoor Mountain View Terrace Room just meters away, our outdoor venues provide the ideal open-air experience. Our interior ballroom features exquisite settings, extravagant chandeliers, high vaulted ceilings, crown molding, and a handcrafted hardwood floor with 180-degree vistas of the mountain environment.

  • Featured photo from Chamberlain West Hollywood

    Chamberlain West Hollywood

    1000 Westmount Dr, West Hollywood, CA 90069, USA
    • Spaces for 35-80 Guests
    • 1 Restaurant
    • 1 Outdoor

    Chamberlain West Hollywood offers a unique collection of Los Angeles event spaces and venues for events for approximately 80 guests. The hotel's sophisticated décor, chic design, and flexible spaces are ideal for meetings, small weddings, bridal celebrations, private parties, press events, trunk shows, castings, and more. Our dedicated Event Services team provides superior planning and event execution, including A/V and tech requirements, and creative, customized menus. WEDDINGS From chic bridal parties to rooftop rehearsal dinners, Chamberlain West Hollywood offers an elevated wedding party experience. With a convenient central location in West Hollywood, it is the perfect home base for your wedding. LA couples looking for the perfect place to celebrate will enjoy our sophisticated event spaces, luxurious suites for out of town guests, and a professional staff to help perfect your special day. EVENT SPACES With over 500 square feet of gathering space, offering a surplus of natural light, convenient amenities, and even an outdoor option, Chamberlain West Hollywood is an ideal destination for a number of different events. Is it any wonder that we’ve become the go-to photoshoot backdrop for Hollywood’s rising stars, such as Andrew Lincoln, David Bromstad, and Sophia Bush? FOR BUSY EXECUTIVES Chamberlain West Hollywood is located in a quiet corner of Los Angeles, close to numerous West Hollywood businesses and worldwide corporations. The hotel features 115 oversized suites with superior amenities designed with business travelers in mind, as well as Wi-Fi access available, a 24-hour fitness center, heated outdoor swimming pool and a high-tech, 24-hour business center. BUSINESS CENTERED SERVICES & AMENITIES - Wi-Fi access available - 24-hour Business Center - Intimate meeting spaces for up to 25 guests - Meeting packages and catering services - 24-hour suite service - Dry cleaning and laundry service - Luxurious oversized suites with spacious work areas featuring a desk, 60" LCD HD TV, two-line cordless phone with customizable voicemail, and safe sized to fit laptop computers

  • Featured photo from Pauley Ballroom

    Pauley Ballroom

    2495 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA

    Host your event in the Pauley Ballroom, which is highly sought after. The ballroom, the East Bay's second largest venue, features prestigious oak paneling, a 30 foot high ceiling, and a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows with spectacular views of Sather Gate and the Campanile. For smaller gatherings or breakout seminars, the Pauley Ballroom can be divided into two halves. East Pauley makes up 1/3 of the ballroom, while West Pauley makes up 2/3. Please note that in order to meet personnel, catering, and/or logistical demands, a reservation request for Pauley Ballroom must be made at least 30 days in advance. If you are hosting or preparing a Major Event, please see the Campus's Non-Departmental User Procedures for requesting access to campus facilities. This guideline also defines what constitutes a major event. If you have any issues concerning this policy, please contact the LEAD Center at lead@berkeley.edu for Student Groups. If you have any questions concerning this policy as a non-campus affiliate, please contact Risk Services at risk@berkeley.edu. A planning consultation with an Event Coordinator is included in your rental. The meeting should be held 60 days before to the event. Please bring accurate times, set-up requirements, and catering requirements. During this meeting, three room designs depicting the layout of your event are created. Each additional diagram costs $77. 3 business days prior to your event, room diagrams are finalized. Kerr Lobby can be included in your Pauley Ballroom rental at no additional cost. The lobby, with its wood paneling, is ideal for registration and handout tables.

  • Featured photo from Next Door Lounge

    Next Door Lounge

    1154 N Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038, USA

    DRINKS&FOOD meets SHOW&DANCE the perfect venue for any kind of group, friends and couple celebrations! Welcome to NEXT DOOR LOUNGE in the heart of Hollywood in Los Angeles California! Burlesque on Fridays Burlesque or live music on Saturdays Next Door Lounge offers innovative cocktails, delectable bites and live entertainment with all of the glamour and forbidden excitement of a speakeasy. Our venue is perfectly suited for any type of private or corporate event, including holiday parties, private events, wrap parties, screenings, and any other type of filming. We can accommodate up to 200 guests. A total of two separate rooms, each with its own bathroom, patio, movable furniture, and excellent sound and lighting equipment You can also book a private party within the public party if you so desire. We would be delighted to walk you through all of your options. Decoration for a birthday You are welcome to bring your own decorations as long as they are in keeping with the design language of the venue, which is gold, black, and emerald green. Cake for a Birthday You are welcome to bring your own individual birthday cake without incurring any fees; however, regular supermarket cakes and cupcakes are not permitted. You can also order a birthday cake from our dinner menu if you so desire. Entertainment Fridays: around 9.30pm-11.15pm: 4 burlesque shows (approximately every 30 minutes) with top40 background music around 10.45pm: 2 burlesque shows (approximately every 30 minutes) with top40 background music Around 11:15 p.m., the DJ starts playing hip hop, Latin hits, top 40, and classics for the party. Saturdays include all of Friday's entertainment as well as a live band performing RnB and Top40 music at Next Door Lounge from 9-11 p.m. Food We provide a lifestyle and party menu that is influenced by American culture.

  • Featured photo from Savor Catering

    Savor Catering

    300 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA, USA

    The Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center is a modern and stylish facility located in the heart of Long Beach’s downtown waterfront. The Center features more than 400,000 square feet of flexible exhibit and meeting space, two theaters, four ballrooms, an arena and 34 multi-purpose meeting rooms. The glass-domed Promenade Atrium, with sweeping views of the scenic waterfront and downtown skyline is available for pre-functions, receptions and special events. Other pre-function and special event areas include the outdoor Promenade Plaza, Terrace Lobby & Plaza, Pacific Gallery & Patio, Pacific Room and the Top of the Lot. Our versatile and adaptable meeting spaces can be quickly and easily transformed into the perfect venue for any event.

  • Featured photo from Sonoma Coast Villa

    Sonoma Coast Villa

    16702 Shoreline Hwy, Bodega, CA 94922, USA
    • Spaces for 250 Guests
    • 1 Outdoor

    Sonoma Coast Villa offers a picturesque backdrop for an outdoor wine country wedding or special event. Sonoma Coast Villa has numerous event spaces that can accommodate weddings and special celebrations of all sizes. Their shaded terrace opens to the spacious and airy lawn that will make your special day unforgettable. The Villa is a place like no other in Northern California. Their wedding venue is the embodiment of romance, joy and beauty in peaceful Wine Country touched by gentle breezes and soothing fountains. The service at Sonoma Coast Villa & Spa is as exceptional as the beauty of the venue. Their culinary experts will enhance your special day with exquisite menus and cuisine. If there is a place where taste truly matters, it is Sonoma Coast Villa & Spa.

  • Featured photo from Mission Rose Garden

    Mission Rose Garden

    Plaza Rubio, Santa Barbara, CA 93103, USA
    • Spaces for 50-200 Guests
    • 1 Outdoor
    • 1 Historic Space
    • 1 space at this venue

    The A.C. Postel Memorial Rose Garden — also known as the Mission Rose Garden — is an outdoor event venue managed by the City of Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation Department. The garden sits within Mission Historical Park in Santa Barbara's upper Eastside neighborhood, adjacent to the historic Santa Barbara Mission and bounded by Los Olivos and Laguna Streets. Spanning approximately 2,000 square feet of open lawn and garden, the space accommodates up to 50 guests for small wedding ceremonies and private gatherings. More than 1,500 rose plants representing over 1,000 varieties surround the gathering area, with many labeled for identification. The garden is designated as an All-American Rose Selections demonstration garden and reaches peak bloom from spring through fall, with blooms unavailable between January and March during annual winter pruning. Paved and hard-packed paths throughout the garden are wheelchair accessible, and benches are provided throughout the space. Permits are required through the Parks and Recreation Department; light music can be accommodated during ceremonies out of consideration for nearby residences.

  • Featured photo from Santa Anita Park

    Santa Anita Park

    285 Huntington Dr, Arcadia, CA 91007, USA
    • Spaces for 70-1,000 Guests
    • 1 Ballroom
    • 1 Event Space
    • 3 Total Spaces

    Santa Anita Park is a historic thoroughbred horse racing venue set at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains in Arcadia, California. Opened in 1934, the property spans more than one million square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor space and accommodates groups from 20 to 10,000 guests across a range of distinct event environments. The venue hosts weddings, corporate meetings, galas, quinceañeras, trade shows, reunions, and private race-day experiences, with dedicated event planning staff, in-house culinary services, and a preferred vendor network available for every occasion. Indoor venues include the 4,350-square-foot Chandelier Room — with its namesake historic fixtures and capacity for up to 350 reception guests — and the 2,300-square-foot Directors' Room, finished in imported antique wood and suited to intimate dinners and board meetings. The 100-1 Club is a 3,700-square-foot elevated space perched above the first turn, offering sweeping views of the track below. Outdoors, the Paddock Gardens front the Art Deco grandstand against a San Gabriel Mountain backdrop, and the 9-acre Infield provides a sprawling semi-covered setting for large-scale gatherings.

  • Featured photo from Coyote Ranch

    Coyote Ranch

    1 Coyote Ranch Rd, Coyote, CA 95013, USA
    • Spaces for 225 Guests
    • 1 Event Space

    You think of a reason to celebrate, and we'll take care of the rest! It's only 15 minutes south of San Jose's downtown. You'll feel so close while somehow feeling so far away! We are excited to share the warmth of Old California Hospitality with you. You'll be whisked away from the rush and bustle of the city and into a tranquil countryside dotted with palm trees and towering pepper trees. You'll be the guests of the Lybbert family and their exceptional crew at Coyote Ranch. We've been marrying the beauty of California's magnificent scenery, old-fashioned hospitality, and your wedding aspirations for over 60 years to create experiences you'll cherish forever. Your wedding day will capture the true you by reflecting and expressing your distinct individuality. Coyote Ranch, nestled beside Coyote Creek in the secluded Coyote Valley, offers a historic countryside wedding and reception site approximately 15 minutes south of downtown San Jose. This site offers delighted couples a mixture of palms and pepper trees, an 1880's victorian residence, and flowers abound for lovely spots to capture a variety of wedding photos, all set on 40 acres with groomed lawns. Following the exchanging of vows, you will join your guests in toasting your love. For your special evening, two distinct and exclusive reception places provide a magnificent outdoor setting and romantic mood. Let us take care of every detail while you enjoy the pleasure of spending time with your loved ones.

  • Featured photo from Il Fornaio Manhattan Beach

    Il Fornaio Manhattan Beach

    1800 Rosecrans Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266, USA
    • 1 Restaurant

    At Il Fornaio, we offer elegant private and semi-private dining spaces, along with a wide range of specialized menus and services to match our authentic, award-winning Italian cuisine. Our experienced staff will with closely with you to create a memorable event. Along with creating a menu and reserving a dining area befitting your occasion, our team - including our on-site Event Coordinator - will guide you in creating a the perfect celebration to match your budget and group size. There’s never any room rental fee. In addition to the dining areas listed here, the entire restaurant is available for buyout for large special events. Founded in Italy in 1972, Il Fornaio Authentic Italian Restaurants are located throughout the United States and aim to provide guests with the most authentic Italian experience outside of Italy. Each location has been designed specifically for the communities we serve, so restaurant hours, menus & reservation sizes available may vary by location. Large parties, private dining groups & special events are welcome at every one of our locations. Using the freshest ingredients & traditional cooking techniques, each Il Fornaio offers a wide variety of premium-quality Italian food paired with award-winning wine lists & crafted cocktails in beautiful settings located throughout the west coast. All 20 kitchens are supervised & guided by Veneto native Executive Chef Maurizio Mazzon using multi-generational family recipes & preparations that Italians have mastered over centuries. These ideals are best demonstrated by Festa Regionale, our monthly exploration of the food & wine of the 20 diverse regions of Italy. This passion for authenticity has been fostered for over 20 years. Il Fornaio also operates two restaurants as Canaletto Ristorante Veneto, located in Newport Beach, CA & in the Venetian Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV. The home office is located in Corte Madera, CA.

  • Featured photo from Il Fornaio at the Westin San Jose

    Il Fornaio at the Westin San Jose

    302 S Market St, San Jose, CA 95113, USA
    • Spaces for 100 Guests
    • 1 Restaurant

    At all of our locations, Il Fornaio offers exquisite private and semi private dining spaces, as well as a variety of specialty menus and services to complement our authentic, award winning Italian food. Our professional staff will work directly with you to make your event one to remember. Please select your location, fill out the form, and we will be in touch as soon as possible to learn more about our full service event planning and how we can help you create the perfect celebration to fit your budget and group size. Il Fornaio San Jose offers elegant private dining space along with a wide range of specialized menus and services to match our authentic, award winning Italian cuisine. Our experienced staff will work closely with you to create a memorable event for you and your guests. CATERING Let us create a really unforgettable experience for you and your guests, from weddings to corporate events to social gatherings! Our talented catering team can cater parties of any size and budget with authentic, award-winning Italian cuisine. There are options for pick-up, delivery, or full service on site or off site catering. PRIVATE DINING Our staff, including our on-site Event Coordinator, can assist you in developing an unique private dining event, in addition to creating a menu and reserving a dining room appropriate for your occasion. There is never a charge for renting a room. The entire restaurant is available for buyout for major special events in addition to the eating spaces shown here.

  • Featured photo from Empire Ranch Golf Club

    Empire Ranch Golf Club

    1620 E Natoma St, Folsom, CA 95630, USA
    • Spaces for 125 Guests

    Empire Ranch Golf Club sits at the base of the Sierra Nevada foothills in Folsom, California, offering 18 holes of links/parkland-style golf on a public-access course that delivers country club quality to all players. The clubhouse overlooks the course and serves as the setting for private events — weddings, corporate meetings, golf tournaments, and milestone celebrations including birthday parties, anniversaries, and more. The on-site Greenside Grille provides dining before, during, and after rounds, while the dedicated event team works directly with hosts to tailor each gathering. A driving range, pro shop, and golf academy are available for guests looking to add a round or a lesson to their event day.

  • Featured photo from Twin Oaks House & Gardens

    Twin Oaks House & Gardens

    236 Deer Springs Rd, San Marcos, CA 92069, USA
    • Spaces for 100 Guests
    • 1 Historic Space
    • 1 Estate
    • 1 Mansion

    With the best storybook backdrop for your wedding, allow yourself to be transported back to 1891 for your big day. Surrounding a historic home situated among the towering trees of a secluded, intimate forest, there are lush gardens, glittering rose arbors, quiet waterfalls and romantic statuary to be discovered. Among the beautiful turn-of-the-century furnishings and artwork, a restored Grand Parlor provides the ideal setting for your bridal party to prepare for the big day and create lasting memories with their loved ones. Located on the grounds, our classic Gentlemen's Clubhouse offers a unique vintage environment for leisure, celebration, and those final words of wisdom from man to man. Guests will be able to dine and dance the night away in a big tent pavilion decorated with exquisite peaks of chiffon, glistening crystal chandeliers, and your own bespoke arrangements and décor. Designed specifically for those who enjoy the outdoors. Allow yourself to be as creative as possible in order to personalize this open-air room. A unique background, huppah, or archway, flanked by two trickling streams and waterfalls beneath the signature forest canopy, can be added to your wedding ceremony. Located in the shelter of the historic forest and surrounded by serene and lyrical gardens, this traditional gazebo exudes elegance. Among luxuriant vines, angels, and butterflies is an intimate location for a special occasion. Water pours from a lovely fountain, which is enclosed by a braided ivy archway that is illuminated by glittering lights on the other side.

  • Featured photo from Sheraton Sonoma County- Petaluma

    Sheraton Sonoma County- Petaluma

    745 Baywood Dr, Petaluma, CA 94954, USA
    • Spaces for 9-800 Guests
    • 2 Hotels
    • 2 Ballrooms
    • 8 Total Spaces

    Sheraton Sonoma County - Petaluma hotel offers a resort-like feel and stunning venues that are sure to impress your guests Trust the experienced Sheraton Sonoma County Petaluma team to manage every wedding detail - from venues to catering. The Great Blue Heron venue can accomodate 350 seated guests for an extraordinary wedding reception, gala, corporate event, or any other type of celebration. Several of Sheraton Sonoma County Petaluma's smaller venues are ideal for wedding events, including showers and rehearsal dinners. Work with the Sheraton Sonoma County culinary team to craft your special event menus that reflect your style and personality.

  • Featured photo from Bayview Dining Room

    Bayview Dining Room

    1700 W Hillsdale Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94402, USA
    • Spaces for 300 Guests
    • 1 Museum
    • 1 Landmark

    Since 2011, District Dining has been a part of some of the most spectacular San Francisco Bay Area celebrations. The Farallon Room at Skyline College and the Bayview Dining Room at College of San Mateo are both one-of-a-kind venues that can help you plan the perfect occasion. We provide dedicated staff for a personalized event for our visitors. A LITTLE ABOUT BAYVIEW DINING ROOM The Bayview Dining Room, located at the top of Hillsdale Boulevard in the College Center on CSM's beautiful campus, has floor to ceiling windows that let in plenty of natural light as well as stunning views of the San Francisco Bay Area and its surrounding mountain ranges. Our unique location provides a stunning backdrop for all types of events. For added convenience, this multipurpose event venue has option breakout rooms upstairs for conference sessions, as well as in-house catering and AV resources. Minimum guest count: 100 (includes space for dance floor, buffet) Max Party/Wedding Capacity: 300 Max Auditorium Seating Capacity: 300 Max Capacity for events requiring additional activity space (silent auction, etc.): 250 (typical—varies per specific event details) A LITTLE ABOUT THE FARALLON ROOM Skyline College's Farallon Room is positioned cliffside in San Bruno, overlooking the Pacific Ocean and hills below. Floor-to-ceiling windows, two fireplaces, and a semi-enclosed terrace characterize our new location. From weddings to corporate functions, our versatile, open space provides the perfect venue. This modern event venue offers flexibility in terms of room arrangement, catering services, and audio visual requirements. Minimum guest count: 90 (includes space for dance floor + buffet) Max Party/Wedding Capacity: 240 (includes space for dance floor, + buffet in pre-function area) Max Auditorium Seating Capacity: 300 Max Capacity for events requiring additional activity space (silent auction, etc.): 230 (typical - varies per specific event details)

  • Featured photo from Lightpost Winery

    Lightpost Winery

    900 Lightpost Way, Morgan Hill, CA 95037, USA
    • Spaces for 200 Guests
    • 1 Historic Space
    • 1 Estate
    • 1 Mansion

    Lightpost Winery is a wedding location in Morgan Hill, California that is both modern and refined. It is located south of Silicon Valley in Santa Clara County and offers both indoor and outdoor event facilities, all of which exude an air of luxury. Milestone milestones can be marked with warmth and refinement here, thanks to the green courtyard and pleasant and well-lit interiors. Lightpost Winery has a serene atmosphere that feels like a haven from the hustle and bustle of modern life. It is headed by proprietors and winemakers John Mauro, Sofia Fedotova, and Christian Roguenant, who combine their abilities and knowledge to create award-winning wines. San Francisco is about an hour and a half away, and San Jose is less than half an hour away. Its central location makes it accessible to residents from all across the Bay Area. Morgan Hill also has a lot to offer in terms of things to do and see, thanks to its thriving downtown and outdoor activities. Lightpost Winery can accommodate celebrations with up to 200 guests, but smaller parties are also welcome. Engagement parties, showers, and rehearsal dinners are all possible at this venue. Dressing rooms are available for the couple and their wedding party's convenience. Indoor events can be held in the tasting room and the event room, while outdoor fetes can be held in the courtyard. The winery's event coordinator helps couples arrange their big day. The wines provided at the venue are a perfect compliment to festivities and assist to elevate the event.

  • Featured photo from D'Argenzio Winery & Tasting Room

    D'Argenzio Winery & Tasting Room

    1204 W Burbank Blvd, Burbank, CA 91506, USA

    Nestled in the world-class wine region of Sonoma County, D’Argenzio Winery is a boutique winery unlike any other. What began humbly, as a hobby for two identical twin brothers, is now a full production winery looking to continue the tradition of the family’s artisan heritage. Owned and operated by three generations of Italian Americans working together to showcase the finest artisan wines, Santa Rosa’s urban boutique winery specializes in offering a selection of wines from Sonoma County’s most prestigious appellations as well as a unique collection of Italian Varietals. Each wine produced is a small lot, with less than 300 cases of each produced. While we take advantage of some modern technologies available to today’s winemakers, we do so cautiously. We much prefer the Old World methods, such as gently pressing our grapes, aging our wine an average of 22 months, and using only the finest French, American, and Italian oak barrels. There is no compromising our cherished ideals of color, aroma, flavor and quality. Winemaker Ray D’Argenzio is regarded highly in the community for his grape selection and collection of varietals. Host your next gathering at D’Argenzio Winery located in “The Urban Winery Village of Santa Rosa,” located just outside of downtown Santa Rosa in Santa Rosa Vintners Square. Whether you wish to host a wedding, rehearsal dinner, corporate dinner, an intimate gathering among friends, or any other private event, D’Argenzio Winery aims to provide our guests with a memorable experience within our event venue in Santa Rosa.

  • Featured photo from Camp Augusta

    Camp Augusta

    17530 Lake Vera Purdon Rd, Nevada City, CA 95959, USA
    • Spaces for 160 Guests

    Camp Augusta is a nonprofit outdoor retreat and event facility set on 90 acres of Sierra Nevada forest along the western shores of Lake Vera, just outside Nevada City, California. Established in 1931 when Edwin William and Charlotte Ehmann donated the property, the camp has grown from a small regional program into a destination that welcomes school groups, organizational retreats, and private groups from across the country. The property features forested trails, a lake waterfront with zip lines and ropes courses, and 150+ activity areas spanning the arts, outdoor skills, climbing, circus arts, and more. Groups of 25 to 130 guests are accommodated, with a 1:2 staff-to-guest ratio and organic, scratch-made meals prepared on-site. Camp Augusta hosts school groups for outdoor education programs, corporate teams and nonprofits for customized retreats, and private groups for family reunions and community gatherings. Programming is available pre- and postseason — late April through early June and mid-August through early September — and can be tailored from self-directed to fully staffed experiences.

  • Featured photo from Inglenook

    Inglenook

    1991 St Helena Hwy, Rutherford, CA 94573, USA

    Gustave Niebaum was born on August 30 in Helsingfors (present-day Helsinki), Finland, into a Swedish-speaking family. Niebaum received his master papers from the Nautical Institute in Helsingfors, and was given his first command in 1864 to captain a ship headed through the Bering Strait to Russian America, later purchased by the United States as the Department of Alaska in 1868. He explores the land and water routes of this frontier region and begins a career in commerce. As ship's captain, Gustave Niebaum sails into San Francisco Bay, after traveling throughout Alaska and its surrounding islands, with a cargo of fur hides and sealskins worth $600,000, a fortune at the time. He settles in San Francisco and, along with several partners, founds the Alaska Commercial Company, which establishes trading posts and shipping lines in Alaskan territory. Within a decade of leaving Finland, Niebaum is a multi-millionaire with a refined taste for life and a dream of building an American winery to rival the great chateaus of Europe. Niebaum buys the Inglenook property as well as the adjoining Rohlwing Farm for $48,000. After extensive travel and study, Niebaum chooses Inglenook's site, intuiting its extraordinary potential for growing grapes. He continues to acquire smaller parcels of neighboring land over the next several years so that by 1887 he ownsed 1,100 contiguous acres, spending a total sum of about $60,000. Fluent in several languages, Niebaum assiduously collected books on every aspect of winemaking, assembling a private library considered to be one of the most valuable on viticulture and oenology. John Daniel Jr.—Niebaum's grandnephew, who assumes management of Inglenook in 1939—eventually donates this library to the University of California at Davis. Inglenook's Chateau winery was conceived to be a state-of-the-art facility. The Chateau's design is based on gravity-flow, one of the first of its type in Napa Valley, and includes an early form of rebar—using cable from cable-cars in San Francisco—to stave off earthquake tremors and to help the building shift safely. True to his fastidious nature in each step of the winemaking process, Niebaum devises California's first grape-sorting table and also installs the state's first bottling line to ensure the wines' provenance from growth to bottle, the latter always bearing the California Pure Wine Stamp and secured with an intricate wire maze to guarantee the wine's integrity. After almost 200 years, Inglenook is still a prominent, luxurious winery in Napa Valley.

  • Featured photo from Encino Banquet and Garden

    Encino Banquet and Garden

    5955 Lindley Ave, Tarzana, CA 91356, USA
    • Spaces for 200-700 Guests
    • 1 Event Space