Lompoc Wine Ghetto, Grotto and Trail are a mecca for wine lovers! We don't care what you call us, we just want you to visit and discover our unique wine tasting destination. We started out as a community of urban wineries in an industrial setting with the distinction of offering fine handcrafted wines. We've evolved into a trail of tasting rooms, wineries and vineyards extending across the Sta. T
he first winery in the Sobhani Industrial Park, aka Lompoc Wine Ghetto, was opened in 1998 by Richard Longoria. Tasting rooms later opened, beginning with Palmina in 2005. Now Lompoc has evolved into a wine mecca with a wine trail that extends from the Lompoc Wine Ghetto, across the city and through the Sta. Rita Hills American Viticultural Area (AVA). Some wineries own their own vineyards and others source fruit from local vineyards. The individual characteristics of the various brands are reflected by the distinct personalities that you will find in each tasting room. Ironically, Lompoc was founded as a temperance colony in 1874. Local historian Dennis Headrick writes in Lompoc Valley Magazine Premier Issue, "Lompoc's modern period in history began in 1874, with the founding of the Lompoc Valley Land Company, which purchased property from Col. Hollister and Thomas Dibblee to create a temperance colony designed after a similar successful colony in Vineland, New Jersey. Broughton, editor of the Santa Cruz Enterprise newspaper, was the guiding force behind the temperance colony. Through his editorials and advertisements, he touted the virtues of the Lompoc Valley as well as the benefits of temperance. Determined to be the first to purchase town and farm lots, hundreds of people poured into the area with all their worldly goods in August of 1874. Bidding was fierce at the day-long auction. The town of Lompoc was officially born." Headrick continued, "Temperance had its daily trials. Being on the stage route between Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, it was difficult for Lompoc to avoid 'demon rum.' ...When the town of Lompoc was incorporated as a city in 1888, the temperance clause, written into every deed, was found to be unenforceable. Temperance was officially over." No doubt, temperance was difficult to enforce with the influx of Portuguese, Italian and other immigrants who were accustomed to their own home winemaking. The Chumash Indians had been living in the area for about 10,000 before the Europeans arrived. The city was named after a Chumash Indian word. "Land of many lakes" or "where the water breaks through" or "place of many ponds" are some common translations of Lompoc. The areas tradition of growing grapes and making wine dates back to the Mission period, from approximately 1787-1835. Read through the milestones to learn more details about the colorful history.
