The Grapes of Conquest: Race, Labor, and the Industrialization of California Wine, 1769-1920

California's wine country is a major economic driver, but scholars know little about its history. Julia Ornelas-Higdon's book "The Grapes of Conquest" explores the industry's birth amid social turmoil and racialized violence in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century California, revealing how California Natives, Mexican Californios, Chinese immigrants, and Euro-Americans came together to build it.

Format: Hardback
Length: 292 pages
Publication date: 01 November 2023
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press

California's wine country is a captivating destination, conjuring images of pastoral vineyards and cellars lined with oak barrels. As a significant mainstay of the state's economy, California wines have captured the popular imagination like never before, driving tourism in renowned viticultural regions across the state. However, scholars know remarkably little about the history of the wine industry and the diverse groups that built it. In fact, contemporary stereotypes belie how the state's commercial wine industry was born amid social turmoil and racialized violence in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century California.

In her book, "The Grapes of Conquest," Julia Ornelas-Higdon addresses these gaps in the historical narrative and popular imagination. Beginning with the industry's inception at the California missions, Ornelas-Higdon examines the evolution of wine growing across three distinct political regimes—Spanish, Mexican, and American—through the industry's demise after Prohibition. This interethnic study of race and labor in California delves into how California Natives, Mexican Californios, Chinese immigrants, and Euro-Americans came together to build the industry. Ornelas-Higdon identifies the birth of the wine industry as a significant missing piece of California history, reshaping scholars' understandings of how conquest played out, how race and citizenship were constructed, and how agribusiness emerged across the region.

"The Grapes of Conquest" unearths the working-class, multiracial roots of the California wine industry, challenging its contemporary identity as the purview of elite populations. Through meticulous research and a rich narrative, Ornelas-Higdon sheds light on the complex social, economic, and cultural forces that shaped the industry's development, providing a fresh perspective on California's rich history and contributing to our understanding of the broader implications of conquest and its enduring legacy.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781496224279