Historic Vine at Mission San Gabriel Used for Limited-Edition Wine

The 250-year-old grapevine, known as the "Mother Vine," still produces fruit that is now being used to make a special Angelica wine.

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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A historic grapevine located at Mission San Gabriel in Los Angeles County, believed to be around 250 years old and one of the oldest in the state, is now being used to produce a limited-edition Angelica wine. The mission reached out to the Los Angeles Vintners Association to help propagate new vines, but the association was so impressed by the "Mother Vine" that they decided to use its fruit to make a fortified port wine following a recipe used by the missionaries in the 1700s.

Why it matters

The historic vine holds both historical and spiritual significance for the Mission San Gabriel community. Not only is it a rare example of an extremely old grapevine that is still producing fruit, but the vine also provides grapes for the mission's religious ceremonies and serves as a gathering place for the faithful. The new Angelica wine made from the vine's grapes is also a unique tourist attraction.

The details

The Mission San Gabriel's director of development and communications, Terri Huerta, reached out to the Los Angeles Vintners Association a couple years ago to help propagate new vines to beautify the mission's entrance. When the vintners came to inspect the vine, they were so impressed that they decided to use the fruit to make a limited-edition Angelica wine, a fortified port wine made following a recipe used by the missionaries in the 1700s. The wine is now in its third vintage.

  • The "Mother Vine" at Mission San Gabriel is believed to date back to the 1770s, making it around 250 years old.
  • The mission first reached out to the Los Angeles Vintners Association a couple years ago to propagate new vines.

The players

Mission San Gabriel

A historic Catholic mission located in Los Angeles County, California that dates back to the 1770s.

Terri Huerta

The director of development and communications at Mission San Gabriel.

Los Angeles Vintners Association

An association of winemakers in the Los Angeles area that helped the mission produce a limited-edition Angelica wine from the grapes of the historic "Mother Vine".

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What they’re saying

“I have this vine and it has fruit and I really need someone to do some clippings. I'm looking to replant them.”

— Terri Huerta, Director of Development and Communications, Mission San Gabriel

“Immediately they just look at each other and they say, we'll take the fruit. We'll take the fruit and when I said you will, I just wanted the vines. They said, no, we can use the fruit.”

— Terri Huerta, Director of Development and Communications, Mission San Gabriel

What’s next

The mission plans to continue using the grapes from the historic "Mother Vine" to produce the limited-edition Angelica wine, which has become a popular tourist attraction.

The takeaway

The preservation and continued use of the 250-year-old grapevine at Mission San Gabriel highlights the historical and cultural significance of this rare living artifact, as well as the mission's commitment to honoring its traditions and sharing them with the community.