From Vines to Veterans: A Toast to Lincoln’s Wine-Soaked Roots

By Andy Solis

You may know it today as the Veterans Memorial Building—a beloved gathering place for ceremonies, events, and community connection. But not so long ago, this same building was known for something a little… fruitier.

Thanks to Tales from the Archives: A Scrapbook by Jerry Logan (which I highly recommend grabbing from the Lincoln Archives and Museum), I learned something that blew my wine-loving, history-nerd mind: this building was once home to the Burdge Winery, operational as early as 1880.

That’s right. Before we were raising flags in this historic space, we were raising glasses. Lincoln’s downtown literally fermented with the hum of the wine industry. Barrels lined the streets. Laborers worked the foothill orchards. Irrigation canals brought water to vineyards east of town. It wasn’t just business—it was culture. And it ran deep.

I like to think of Lincoln’s wine story as one of transformation: from crates and presses to commemorations and public service. And yet, the heart of it all—community—has never changed.

Celebrating the Past at Lincoln Wine Fest 2025

That’s why I’m especially excited for Lincoln Wine Fest 2025, happening Saturday, April 26th in our charming downtown.

Picture this: you’re sipping Viognier or Barbera with friends on the same streets that once saw crates of grapes wheeled in for pressing. Wineries from across Placer County will be pouring, downtown shops will be open, and the energy will be pure Lincoln—small town hospitality with a legacy that tastes as good as it sounds.

You can snag tickets (VIP or General Admission) at lincolnwinefest.org. And if you’re standing near the Veterans Memorial Building that day, raise your glass and toast to the winemakers who came before us—and the people who keep their legacy alive.

Visit the Museum, Walk the Story

Our local history is preserved beautifully at the Lincoln Archives and Museum, just steps from where it all happened. If you haven’t been lately, now’s the time. The stories inside—like this one—remind us that Lincoln wasn’t just shaped by the Gold Rush, but by the fruit and wine industries that followed. We owe so much of our identity to those eras, and Jerry Logan’s work captures it all in detail, humor, and heart.

History lives right here in Lincoln. Sometimes it’s found in books. Sometimes in old buildings. And sometimes, in a glass of red.

Written by Andy Solis

Realtor | Neighbor | Local History Addict

@myplacercountyhome | andy@culbertsonandgray.com