Clayton Vineyards-DeMartini Winery
Also known as: Forni Ranch,Clayton Ranch
Why it's listed
Set on an 8.328-acre parcel along Clayton Road, this 1885 winery is a 50-by-66-foot, three-storey building cut into a hillside. Its lower two floors are two-foot-thick sandstone, and the upper floor and roof are wood frame with shiplap siding and shingles. Stonemasons Dragovitch and Cavagnaro built it for Paul DeMartini, who had taken over the vineyard planted around 1863 by Joel Clayton, the founder of the town. By 1897 the winery ranked second in Contra Costa County for output, and its port and sherry won first prizes at the 1903 St. Louis fair. Prohibition ended winemaking in 1920, and the land was turned to almonds. The building later served as storage and a residence, then was abandoned in 1979 and suffered vandalism. The Sherry House and other early structures are gone. It survives as one of the few winery buildings left from the county's early wine industry.
Significance in brief: The nomination ties the property to Joel Clayton, who founded the town and planted Clayton Vineyards around 1863, and to Paul DeMartini, who built the winery in 1885. It became the second largest winery in the county and won first prizes for port and sherry at the 1903 St. Louis fair. The building is also one of the few surviving examples of the county's pre-Prohibition wine industry.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 84000767, listed August 30, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 5919 Clayton Rd., Clayton |
|---|---|
| County | Contra Costa County |
| Listed | August 30, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84000767 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Dragovitch and Cavagnaro |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Historic - Aboriginal, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Abandoned in 1979 and vandalized afterward; some sandstone deterioration noted. The owner at the time planned restoration. |
| Acreage | 8.3 |
| Coordinates | 37.94294, -121.93755 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 84000767.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.