G. Migliavacca, one of the pioneer wine producers and dealers of California, died at his residence in Napa, on November 21st, after a long illness.

Mr. Migliavacca was born in Pavia, Italy, August 16, 1833, and received his education at the University of Pavia. After completing his courses he went into business with his father, an extensive manufacture of cordials and liquors. When the revolution of 1848 broke out he entered the Noble Guard de Milano, and after concluding his service with high honors there he returned to his home in Pavia. It was in 1857 that he immigrated to California, coming on the steamer Golden Gate. For a while he made his home in San Francisco where he conducted a vinegar factory. Then he moved to Hornitos in Mariposa County, where he embarked in the grocery business. It was during this year, 1860 that he married Miss Madeline Semorile, who was born in Zoagli, Italy.

Before moving back to the San Francisco bay area, the Italian families which settled in Hornitos, including the Migliavacca, Giannini, Chichizola and Ghirardelli families, establish relationships which would support each other. Giacomo's sister-in-law married Antonio Chichizola who was the first president of the Bank of Italy, which later became the Bank of America. Giacomo's son Joseph would go on to be the VP of the Bank of Italy and Sero (with financial assistance from A. P. Giannini) started, and become the president of, the Citizens Bank of Bremerton.

In 1866 he moved to Napa with his family. Established in 1866 by Giacomo Migliavacca in Napa, California, the Migliavacca Wine Co. soon established itself as a maker of fine wines. An official winery was constructed of brick in 1874. It was an 80 foot by 100 foot two-story brick building and had a capacity of 150,000 gallons of wine. There was a distillery in connection with it which had a capacity of 450 gallons. The Migliavacca Wine Company was incorporated March 30, 1893. Giacomo was the President and Joseph was the Secretary. He received many recognitions at various international expositions for his products in the shape of gold medals, and of these he was justly proud.

1870 First Premium California Red Wine from the Mechanics Institute
1889 Gold Medal from the Exposition Universelle of the Republic Francaise
1892 Dublin Exposition
1893 World's Colombian Exposition

Wine used to be taken down the Napa River in ferries to San Francisco. The ferries could hold 100 puncheons of wine (a puncheon is an 84 gallon barrel of wine). He also imported wine to Europe. After the Phylloxera outbreak in Europe decimated their wine crops Giacomo imported wine there, sending his son John down to Galveston as shipping from the west coast was cost prohibitive.

In his later years Giacomo had a bad back and used to crawl home from the winery which was adjacent to the house. He got sick easily, usually with the flu. Giacomo retired in 1908 and turned the winery over to his children. Joseph was President, Giacomo/Jimi/James was Vice President and Cesare/Chester/Lawrence was Secretary. Angelina was the official wine taster as she had the best taste. The brothers ran the winery until prohibition when the winery was dissolved in 1919. His business ventures, however, were various and extended, and at the time of his death he controlled large real estate holdings not only in Napa, but in San Francisco and elsewhere.