About San Antonio Winery
San Antonio Winery is the oldest operating winery in Los Angeles, founded in 1917 by Italian immigrant Santo Cambianica and still run by his descendants, the Riboli family, four generations on. Tucked into the Lincoln Heights district just north of downtown, it is the last survivor of the era when Los Angeles, not Napa, was the center of California winemaking.
The winery earned its place in history by surviving Prohibition, staying open by producing sacramental wine for the Catholic Church while nearly every other Los Angeles winery closed. In the early 1960s the city named it Cultural Monument No. 42, and it remains on its original Lamar Street site, a working winery hidden in an industrial pocket of the city.
Today San Antonio is as much a destination for food as for wine. The on-site Maddalena Restaurant, named for the winery's matriarch, serves trattoria-style Italian fare, while the 1917 Wine Bar and Bistro offers seated tastings and al fresco dining on the patio. Guided tours run through the historic cellars, and a large gift shop rounds out the visit.
The family farms estate vineyards in Paso Robles, Monterey, and Napa, and the winery pours a broad range under labels including Maddalena, San Simeon, and Stella Rosa, from sparkling wines to bold reds and sweet wines. It is an easy, welcoming, deeply historic stop just minutes from Union Station and downtown.
"Los Angeles' oldest winery, founded in 1917 and still family-run, a living link to the city's forgotten era as the heart of California wine."
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Living LA HistoryFounded in 1917 and named a city Cultural Monument, San Antonio is the last operating winery from Los Angeles' original wine era.
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Wine and Italian DiningThe on-site Maddalena Restaurant and 1917 Wine Bar make it a full food-and-wine outing, not just a tasting.
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Easy and WelcomingWalk-in friendly with free parking, minutes from downtown and Union Station, and tastings starting around $15.
A historic Los Angeles institution and the city's oldest winery, share your visit to help fellow wine travelers know what to expect.
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Featured Wines
Sparkling
Stella Rosa
The winery's national hit, a range of lightly sparkling, semi-sweet wines that are approachable, fruity, and endlessly popular.
Cabernet
San Simeon Cabernet Sauvignon
Estate Cabernet from the family's Paso Robles vineyards, dark, structured, and built for the table.
Chardonnay
Maddalena Chardonnay
Bright, easygoing Chardonnay under the namesake label honoring the winery's matriarch.
Heritage
Cellar No. 4 & Reserves
Older-vine and reserve bottlings that show the serious side of a century-old Los Angeles cellar.
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1917 Wine Bar & Bistro
Seated tastings, from ~$15
Guided flights and al fresco dining on the patio, with tasting menus that range from casual to reserve-level pours of estate wines.
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Historic Winery Tour
Complimentary, on the hour
A free guided walk through the historic cellars and the winery's photographic history, ending with a tasting.
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Maddalena Restaurant
A la carte dining
Trattoria-style Italian fare, fresh pasta, salads, and grilled meats, served alongside the family's wines.
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Stefano Cellar (Groups)
Reservations required
Private guided tastings in a dedicated cellar space, ideal for larger groups and celebrations.
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