Palomares Vineyards in Castro Valley is Closed
Palomares Vineyards
Palomares Vineyards was a small, family-run winery in Castro Valley, operated alongside Westover Winery. The 10-acre property featured rolling vineyards, oak and eucalyptus trees, a horse corral and pasture, a seasonal creek, picnic areas, and a Mediterranean-style setting that made it a tranquil spot for visitors.
William "Bill" Smyth established his operation in the mid-1980s as a passion project rooted in his family's deep winemaking heritage. In 1886 his pioneering great-great-aunt, Josephine Tychson, built and operated Tychson Cellars in St. Helena, Napa Valley. It was widely recognized as the first winery in California (and one of the first in the entire country) founded and run by a woman. The original redwood cellar she constructed still forms part of today’s Freemark Abbey Winery.
Josephine was hands-on and self-sufficient. She raised chickens, grew her own food, planted vineyards, harvested grapes, and produced wines including Zinfandel and Riesling. Her story was a point of pride for the Smyth family’s own winemaking efforts in the East Bay.
The Smyth family faced significant challenges when the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement issued substantial fines related to the use of volunteer labor during harvests. Combined with the small scale of the business, these penalties made operations unsustainable. After 37 years, Bill Smyth announced the closure of both Westover Winery and Palomares Vineyards.
Palomares Vineyards is permanently closed and no longer produces or sells wine. It remains a nostalgic part of Castro Valley's modest wine history, representing the challenges faced by small, independent producers in the East Bay.
Palomares Vineyards Photo Gallery
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| Palomares Vineyards Photographed by Kim Giancaterino |
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| Palomares Vineyards Photographed by Kim Giancaterino |
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| Palomares Vineyards Photographed by Kim Giancaterino |
The Wine Seeker's Guide to Livermore Valley
by Thomas C. Wilmer
The Wine Seeker's Guide to Livermore Valley by Thomas C. Wilmer
Featuring Palomares Vineyards (page 147)
Westover Winery & Palomares Vineyards by Bill Smythe
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