THE STORY OF WILLIAM WELCH & RANCHO LAS JUNTAS
Irishman William Welch risked life and liberty on a dark night in 1821 as he "jumped ship" in Bodega Bay. He was 24 years old and had little to lose as an indentured sailor on the British ship, Lady Blackwood. The captain of the ship came to trade with the Russians at Fort Ross, and Welch and the ship's carpenter, Joseph Lawrence, knew this was their chance to start a new life. They hitched a ride by boat to San Francisco and then to Los Angeles, where Lawrence stayed. Welch came back North and befriended the Spanish settlers at Mission Santa Clara, where they baptized him at Mission Santa Clara as Julian Willis. He further solidified the Spanish's trust of him by becoming a sergeant in the army and marrying into a prominent Spanish family. Maria Antonia Galindo (her brother, Francisco Galindo, co-founded Concord) was descended from the DeAnza settlers that lived at Pueblo San Jose. Welch started on a herd of cattle, but most of the ranchos were taken. Welch applied for a tract of land by Mount Diablo, and received permission from the district's alcalde, Salvio Pacheco. However, Pacheco didn't realize it was the same land he had applied for, and he went to the California governor to eject Welch from his land. Welch complied and Ignacio Martinez allowed him to move his cattle to his Rancho El Pinole. He finally found a tract of land that lay between the Pacheco and Martinez ranchos along Alhambra and Walnut Creeks called Las Juntas (translates as the "joining" of the creeks). However, the Native Americans opposed the occupation, and Welch sent his son to build an adobe to protect the cattle in Martinez and Walnut Creek. Finally, after years of struggle, William Welch was granted the majestic Rancho Las Juntas* in 1844.
We believe this wine incorporates the same determination and bold spirit of William Welch, and it is with great pride that we, his family, present it to you.
* Rancho Las Juntas consisted of 13,324 acres in what is present-day North Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Pacheco, and Martinez
Irishman William Welch risked life and liberty on a dark night in 1821 as he "jumped ship" in Bodega Bay. He was 24 years old and had little to lose as an indentured sailor on the British ship, Lady Blackwood. The captain of the ship came to trade with the Russians at Fort Ross, and Welch and the ship's carpenter, Joseph Lawrence, knew this was their chance to start a new life. They hitched a ride by boat to San Francisco and then to Los Angeles, where Lawrence stayed. Welch came back North and befriended the Spanish settlers at Mission Santa Clara, where they baptized him at Mission Santa Clara as Julian Willis. He further solidified the Spanish's trust of him by becoming a sergeant in the army and marrying into a prominent Spanish family. Maria Antonia Galindo (her brother, Francisco Galindo, co-founded Concord) was descended from the DeAnza settlers that lived at Pueblo San Jose. Welch started on a herd of cattle, but most of the ranchos were taken. Welch applied for a tract of land by Mount Diablo, and received permission from the district's alcalde, Salvio Pacheco. However, Pacheco didn't realize it was the same land he had applied for, and he went to the California governor to eject Welch from his land. Welch complied and Ignacio Martinez allowed him to move his cattle to his Rancho El Pinole. He finally found a tract of land that lay between the Pacheco and Martinez ranchos along Alhambra and Walnut Creeks called Las Juntas (translates as the "joining" of the creeks). However, the Native Americans opposed the occupation, and Welch sent his son to build an adobe to protect the cattle in Martinez and Walnut Creek. Finally, after years of struggle, William Welch was granted the majestic Rancho Las Juntas* in 1844.
We believe this wine incorporates the same determination and bold spirit of William Welch, and it is with great pride that we, his family, present it to you.
* Rancho Las Juntas consisted of 13,324 acres in what is present-day North Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Pacheco, and Martinez