Sponsor
Conditions Governing Access
Conditions Governing Use
Preferred Citation
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Biographical / Historical
Scope and Contents
Arrangement
Related Materials
Processing Information
Title: Romolo Winery Collection
Creator: Romolo Winery
Identifier/Call Number: 0079
Contributing Institution: California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Special
Collections and Archives
Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 0.21 Linear
Feet(1 box)
Date (inclusive): circa 1935-1972, 2001
Abstract: The Romolo
Winery was a winery that operated from 1934 until 1972 in Cucamonga, California. The
collection contains photographs of the Romolo Winery and the Romolo family home;
Romolo Winery labels; photocopies of records, including an alcoholic beverage
license; and winery ephemera, including a business receipt.
Sponsor
The processing of this collection and the creation of this finding aid was funded by the generous support of the National
Historical Publications and Records Commission.
Conditions Governing Access
Advance notice required for access.
Conditions Governing Use
Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or
reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.
Preferred Citation
Romolo Winery Collection, Collection no. 0079, Southern California Wine and Wine
Industry Collection, Special Collections and Archives, University Library,
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The materials were donated to California State Polytechnic University, Pomona by
Anita Romolo Mittelman in 2004 and 2006 and gathered from Special Collections'
Southern California Wine and Wine Industry Collection files.
Biographical / Historical
The Romolo Winery was a family-operated winery that opened in 1934 in Cucamonga, a
Southern California community that was later incorporated into Rancho Cucamonga. The
winery was owned by an Italian immigrant named Giuseppe (Joe) Romolo and his son,
Louis. Henrietta Romolo, Louis' wife, was also a partner in the winery.
Giuseppe and his son started by planting grapes on 20 acres of land but opened the
winery in 1934 because they were unable to get the price they wanted for the grapes.
The Romolos later purchased an additional 20 acres of land during the 1950s.
The winery experienced some particularly busy years during World War II. That may
have been a result of the winery's location near the Kaiser Steel plant in Fontana,
which had brought in more workers to support the war effort. The winery experienced
an increase in sales during that period and would even sell out of wine before the
next crop was harvested.
One unique aspect of the Romolo Winery was its tasting room, a feature that was not
common at that time. The winery started offering one ounce samples to its customers
in the mid-1930s. In addition to selling wine out of the winery's store, Louis
Romolo would deliver wine to restaurants, stores, and various customers in places as
far north as Fillmore in Ventura County.
The Romolo Winery's most popular wines were dry, red wines but the winery's varietals
included Zinfandel, Muscatel, Port, and Sauterne. The winery operated until 1972 and
the Romolos sold the land they owned to San Bernardino County in 1976.
Scope and Contents
The collection contains photographs of the Romolo Winery and the Romolo family home;
Romolo Winery labels; photocopies of records, including an alcoholic beverage
license; and winery ephemera, including a business receipt. The family members in
the photographs include Louis Romolo; his father, Giuseppe "Joe" Romolo; Louis'
mother, Giuseppine "Pina" Romolo; and Louis' wife, Henrietta.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Related Materials
Southern California Wine and Wine Industry Oral History Collection, Collection no.
0024, Southern California Wine and Wine Industry Collection, Special Collections and
Archives, University Library, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.
Processing Information
The collection was processed by Rob Strauss in September 2018.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Romolo Winery
Wine and wine making - California
Photographs
Wine labels