Lombardo Ranch
Also known as: Fossati's Winery; Roeger Winery
Why it's listed
Lombardo Ranch is a former homestead, vineyard and distillery site in Dutch Mary Ravine, about a mile northeast of Placerville. Giovanni Lombardo, who came from Genoa, Italy, settled there in 1856, planted fruit trees and vines, and built a small distillery around 1860 that produced brandy until 1912. In 1872 the family completed a larger winery and residence of rubble stone gathered on the property, with 18-inch plastered walls, a raised cellar and a wooden balcony. Grapes were once crushed in the upstairs living room and poured through floor openings to the cellar. Hand-forged window bars and a large lock and key were made in the ranch blacksmith shop. The ranch supplied produce to Placerville hotels and grocers and sacramental wine to the Catholic church for forty years. Lombardo's daughter's family later operated it as Fossati's Winery before a 1972 sale, and it is now a working winery. The buildings illustrate foothill construction using stone, wood and slate.
Significance in brief: The ranch preserves a tradition of agriculture and wine making that began in 1856. Its buildings are fine examples of local vernacular architecture built from native materials close at hand. The winery also has unique hand-made features, such as forged window bars and a lock and key made on the ranch.
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 77000292, listed September 30, 1977. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1709 Carson Rd., Placerville |
|---|---|
| County | El Dorado County |
| Listed | September 30, 1977 |
| Reference number | 77000292 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Giovanni Lombardo |
| Architectural style | Local vernacular |
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in agricultural and commercial use; the cellar serves as a tasting room for a winery, and the upper floor is a residence. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 38.74295, -120.77440 (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.
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 77000292.
- 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.