Carriger, Nicholas, Estate
Also known as: Yulupa Ranch
Why it's listed
Located about three miles west of Sonoma's plaza at the foot of the Sonoma Mountains, this 23.3-acre estate preserves the farm of Nicholas Carriger, an early American grape grower in Sonoma County. The main house, a two-story redwood building with a stone foundation and a full-width colonnaded porch, dates to about 1849 and is a vernacular Greek Revival design. Nearby are a stone root cellar, a cottage from around 1875, the 'little Carriger' house from around 1870, and a fountain. The 1875 winery, with a stone foundation, redwood drop siding and an arched opening carved with Carriger's initials, is being rehabilitated for winery use. Carriger planted vineyards after returning from the gold fields in 1849, grew them to 180 acres by 1867, and in 1876 produced 35,000 gallons of wine and 1,500 gallons of brandy. His wines won premiums at the 1872 county fair. The property reflects the early growth of Sonoma's wine industry.
Significance in brief: The estate is tied to Nicholas Carriger, described as among the first American settlers to plant a vineyard in Sonoma County. He became a successful medium-sized grape grower, winemaker and brandy distiller as the California wine industry shifted north from Los Angeles. The house, root cellar and stone-based redwood winery preserve physical evidence of that early wine-growing operation.
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 01001234, listed November 16, 2001. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 18880 Carriger Rd., Sonoma |
|---|---|
| County | Sonoma County |
| Listed | November 16, 2001 |
| Reference number | 01001234 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1849-1885 |
| Architect / builder | Nicholas Carriger (builder/owner) |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century: Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The main house is well maintained and only somewhat altered; the 1875 winery is being rehabilitated for return to winery use with a tasting room and offices; the cottage shows paint deterioration. |
| Acreage | 23.3 |
| Coordinates | 38.29610, -122.51242 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 01001234.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14683493
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.