Krug, Charles, Winery
Why it's listed
Charles Krug Winery near St. Helena in Napa County, California, includes a two-story plastered stone winery built in 1874 and a large stable, now an aging cellar, built in 1881. Krug founded the operation in 1861, and a section of the original cellar's south wall, which survived an 1874 fire, was incorporated into the rebuilt winery. The winery has arched windows and doors, rusticated wall angles, a corrugated metal roof with dormers and a wooden octagonal cupola. The stable has a ventilation level of wood with a double arched roof, wooden hemispheres, and acorn-shaped details. Krug, born in Germany in 1825, made the first wine in Napa County in 1858 and became a leading figure in early California viticulture, serving as an officer in state and local wine societies. The property is described as the oldest operating winery in Napa Valley and is a California Historical Landmark. It remains in use and open to visitors.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as the oldest operating winery in Napa Valley and a landmark of the earliest days of Napa winemaking. Its greatest significance is said to lie in the place Charles Krug holds in the viticulture and winemaking of California and of Napa Valley. It is also noted for the unusual architectural detailing of the stable building.
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 74000542, listed November 8, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | St. Helena Hwy., St. Helena |
|---|---|
| County | Napa County |
| Listed | November 8, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74000542 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th and 20th Century (boxes checked; no specific dates given) |
| Architect / builder | Charles Krug (builder of the winery and stable) |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition marked fair; exteriors stated as not substantially altered since construction. The winery is described as operating and open to the public daily, with the former stable used as an aging cellar. |
| Acreage | 8 |
| Coordinates | 38.51753, -122.48124 (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 74000542.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18753758
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.