Winehaven
Also known as: Point Molate; Fuel Department; Nsco
Why it's listed
Winehaven is a turn-of-the-century winery complex on the shore of the Point San Pablo peninsula near Richmond, California. The California Wine Association built it in 1908 as its headquarters and production center, and it was described at the time as one of the largest wineries in the world. The main winery is a two-and-a-half-story brick building with a crenellated parapet and corner turrets, and other brick and concrete buildings share the castle-like look. The complex also held a hotel, a school, a post office, a steam plant, and shingled cottages for workers below the superintendent's house. A long wharf and rail connections moved grapes in and wine out. Prohibition closed the operation in 1919, and the Navy bought the site in 1941 for a fuel depot. Because of its isolation and protective ownership, the layout has changed little, and the nomination treats it as a representative early twentieth-century industrial complex.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents Winehaven as an uncommon winery complex, once billed as the largest in the world, with castle-like crenellated buildings. It is called representative of an efficient industrial unit of the early 1900s. Its layout has stayed largely unchanged because of its isolation and Navy ownership.
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 78000658, listed October 2, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Point Molate, Richmond |
|---|---|
| County | Contra Costa County |
| Listed | October 2, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78000658 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architectural style | Castellated, Rhineland-castle-like industrial architecture with crenellated parapets and corner turrets |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Historic - Aboriginal, Commerce, Historic - Non-Aboriginal, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition under Navy stewardship; the winery buildings are used for Navy warehouse storage or stand vacant, and the workers' houses house Navy personnel. |
| Acreage | 100 |
| Coordinates | 37.95143, -122.41593 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 78000658.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8024966
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.