Tucked away at 1320 E 7th St Suite 150 in the ROW DTLA you’ll find Bodega. It’s not just a bar. It’s a hidden gem a place steeped in the surprising history of Los Angeles. Did you know Los Angeles was once known as the City of Vines? Before Sonoma and Napa became synonymous with California wine Los Angeles boasted over 100 vineyards. Imagine vineyards sprawling where skyscrapers now stand. Bodega is a small reminder of that forgotten past.
The area’s winemaking history began during the Spanish colonial era. Missionaries like Father Junipero Serra planted grape cuttings from Mexico. These thrived at Mission San Gabriel near present-day Los Angeles. Wine production increased. Jean-Louis Vignes a Frenchman whose name means vines recognized the potential for a market beyond Los Angeles. He established a large vineyard along the Los Angeles River. This became a social hub.
However Los Angeles’s early wine success was short-lived. The wine quality initially wasn’t high. Shipping was difficult. Americans preferred beer. The Gold Rush brought a population boom. This boosted grape cultivation but ultimately led to urbanization. The vineyards gave way to the city’s expansion. A disease called Anaheim Disease or Pierce’s Disease ravaged the vineyards starting in 1883. This hastened the decline. Northern California surpassed Southern California in wine production.
The last blow came with the construction of the Los Angeles Aqueduct in 1913. This brought water from Owens Valley. Los Angeles’s explosive growth followed. Land prices soared. The remaining vineyards were replaced by buildings. The arrival of the railroad in 1875 also accelerated this. The city’s transformation from a small town to a metropolis erased much of its winemaking past.
Today Bodega stands as a testament to this lost history. It’s a reminder of a time when Los Angeles was known not for Hollywood but for its vineyards. It is a place where the past whispers through the clinking of glasses and the laughter of patrons. It is a place to remember a unique and largely forgotten aspect of Los Angeles.