To avoid the onset of Prohibition in 1920 when the enforcement of the Volstead Act began , the Marchetti family devised a " work around " strategy by developing Vick ' s Place in Tijuana , Mexico . James Marchetti ( 1900-1965 ), the son of Henry and Mary Marchetti , led the effort to protect their stockpile of wine barrels by shipping them to the cellar of Vick ' s Place . Grape juice was not restricted by Prohibition , and transportation by rail or truck was available . Vick ' s Place became one of the premier destinations for Americans crossing the border from California for food and fun . Today , the Marchetti lands have been subdivided to include MOHI , which was the former Sycamore Creek vineyard and winery , and Kuchan Cellars . married Togliatti girls , and the Marchetti daughter married Giacamo Togliatti . Most of the family members worked in the Utah copper mines at Bingham for varying periods of time to earn money to complete their American journey .
Like many immigrant families , the Marchetti and Togliatti families invested their meager savings to come to the United States with the goal of putting down permanent roots in California . The typical route from Italy was to travel 600 miles through France , departing from Le Havre aboard a steamship in the steerage class to New York . A transcontinental railroad trip of ten days through Chicago to Salt Lake City followed , leading to work in the mines .
The Kuchan Family Estate highlights the original 17-acre vineyards planted in 1925 by the Marchetti ’ s . Head-trained old vine Zinfandel , mixed with plots of Grenache and Carignan were dry farmed and the root systems reached depths of 40 to 50 feet .
As we begin the New Year , let us raise a toast to all who have come before us . Salute !
California , especially the Santa Clara Valley , was especially attractive for Italian families because of the similar climate enjoyed in Piedmont , and the opportunities for farming and land ownership were abundant for new settlers . John Marchetti ( 1883-1963 ) arrived at Bingham Canyon in 1905 , staying in Utah long enough to wait for his 18 year old betrothed , Marguerite Togliatti , to join him . She was accompanied to the United States by Giacomo ( James 1870-1924 ) Marchetti . John and Marguerite left Utah in 1906 bound for Gilroy . Soon Gilroy would welcome more of the extended Marchetti and Togliatti families .
The 1914 Map of Santa Clara County prepared by J . G . McMillan identifies two parcels owned by Marchetti brothers near the intersection of Uvas and Watsonville Roads totalling 78 acres . With their farming heritage , the Marchetti ’ s planted orchards and vineyards in the deep alluvial soils along Uvas Creek . The Marchetti Ranch had expanded to 130 acres by 1929 .
TOP LEFT : Marchetti & Togliatti Family in Santa Clara , California , circa 1910 . Back row : James Marchetti ( 1900-1965 ), alongside his Uncle Ceaser Marchetti ( 1878-1945 ), father Henry Marchetti ( 1869-1933 ), and uncle John Marchetti ( 1883-1963 ) Front row : James ’ sister Angela Marchetti ( 1898-1989 ), mother Maria Togliatti ( 1878-1933 ), cousin Frank Marchetti ( 1908-2003 ), and Frank ’ s mother Margherita Togliatti ( 1888-1948 ). RIGHT : Vick ' s Place in Tijauana , Baja California helped the MArchetti brothers through the Prohibition years . ABOVE : 1914 map by J . G . McMillan showing Marchetti plots of land . ( courtesy Stanford Library - searchworks . stanford . edu )
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