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Stonebarn Vineyard Conservancy

In 1885, two immigrant French winemakers, George Le Mesnager and Pierre Durancette purchased land in Dunsmore Canyon from Dr. Benjamin B. Briggs, the founder of La Crescenta. They had a winery in downtown Los Angeles, planted vines on their new acreage shipping the grapes to Los Angeles for processing. In 1905, Georges' son, Louis, built the unique two story stone barn with winery storage on the ground floor. Prohibition brought an end to the wine business but the Le Mesnagers continued to sell table grapes and make a non-alcoholic brandy drink.

After Prohibition ended, a disastrous fire in 1933 burned the property, leaving only the stonework. The Le Mesnager family rebuilt the barn adding living quarters on the second floor and moved into the property. The 700+ property was acquired by the City of Glendale in 1888 and is now Deukmejian Wilderness Park located at 3429 Markridge Road, Glendale, CA. The vineyard has 71 grapevines which were planted in 2004 and are maintained by the Stonebarn Vineyard Conservancy which is a part of the Historical Society of the Crescenta Valley.

Benefits of joining the Stonebarn Vineyard Conservancy:

• Periodic Newsletters sent by email
• Advance notice of special events, field trips and classes
• Notice of hands-on participation of the winemaking process
• Network of making new friends who love to make wine
• Support the local history of the Crescenta Valley and ensuring the founding Le Mesnager Vineyard continues to thrive for years to come.

Membership donations help fund the vineyard:

• Includes one bottle of wine: $40.00
• Annual fee-due February of each year
• Membership only: $30.00
• Annual fee-due February of each year

Checks payable to: The Historical Society of the Crescenta Valley

You can sign up for membership at a Stonebarn event

Email stonebarnvineyard@gmail.com

or Call Stuart Byles: 818-249-2414