"VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER" IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM: HI, I'M HUELL HOWSER.

ONE OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS ABOUT OUR CITY IS THAT IT IS SO FULL OF SURPRISES.

ON THIS PARTICULAR ADVENTURE, WE'RE GONNA VISIT TWO RIGHT HERE IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES.

OUR FIRST SURPRISE IS ON BONNIE BRAE BETWEEN THIRD AND SIXTH.

YOU SEE ALL THESE WONDERFUL, NEW APARTMENT BUILDINGS BEING BUILT HERE.

BUT LOOK OVER HERE.

RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS IS THIS WONDERFUL OLD VICTORIAN HOUSE THAT'S BEEN HERE 100 YEARS.

IT'S A SURPRISE BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST A HOUSE; IT IS A MUSEUM.

IT'S THE "GRIER-MUSSER MUSEUM."

HERE ARE THE GRIERS AND THE MUSSERS OUT HERE.

THIS IS THE FAMILY THAT RUNS THIS MUSEUM.

HELLO.

HELLO.

I'M, HUELL HOWSER.

I'M SUSAN TEJEDA.

ANNA KRIEGER.

NANCY BARRON.

JOHN KRIEGER.

OKAY.

NOW SO FAR, I HADN'T HEARD THE WORD MUSSER OR GRIER YET, BUT YOU ARE RELATIVES.

YES.

NOW, TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS MUSEUM AND HOW IT CAME INTO BEING.

ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO, MY MOTHER RETIRED FROM HER MEDICAL FAMILY PRACTICE OF 45 YEARS.

SHE'S FROM PENNSYLVANIA AND DECIDED TO RETIRE.

BUT INSTEAD OF RETIRING, WE FOUND AN OLD HOUSE TO SHOW OFF OUR ANTIQUES.

WE SAW THIS HOUSE LISTED IN THE NEWSPAPER, CAME BY AND FELL IN LOVE WITH IT.

IT'S PRETTY MUCH ORIGINAL, THE DOORS AND EVERYTHING.

IT WAS A ROOMING HOUSE THAT WASN'T ABUSED MUCH.

SO 10 YEARS AGO, YOU RETIRED.

YOU WERE A DOCTOR FOR 45 YEARS AND YOU DIDN'T WANT TO HANG IT ALL UP?

WE WERE TIRED OF THE PAPERWORK.

SO YA'LL FOUND THIS HOUSE IN THE REAL ESTATE SECTION OF THE PAPER AND MOVED IN ALL OF THEIR STUFF.

I SAY "STUFF" BECAUSE?

ALL OUR COLLECTIBLES AND "JUNK," I CALL IT.

NO, NO, THIS IS A MUSEUM.

YES, YES.

LET'S GO INSIDE THE GRIER-MUSSER MUSEUM HERE ON BONNIE BRAE.

IT'S A WONDERFUL OLD VICTORIAN HOUSE THAT'S IN VERY GOOD CONDITION.

YES, IT IS.

PRESERVATION STATE.

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.

IS THIS WHAT A VICTORIAN HOUSE LOOKED LIKE?

YES, AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY.

NOW, LET'S EXPLAIN WHAT'S IN HERE.

I KNOW THAT'S HARD TO DO.

THIS IS THE FRONT PARLOR WHERE THE LADY OF THE HOUSE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE ENTERTAINED HER PROMINENT GUESTS, MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE OF THE DAY -- THIS IS OUR MOST VICTORIAN ROOM.

WE HAVE A FIVE-PIECE PARLOR SET IN HERE AND AN ORGAN.

WE SHOW SOME OF MY GRANDMOTHER'S PAINTINGS, DONE AROUND 1908.

NOW, WHERE DID ALL OF THIS "STUFF" COME FROM?

FROM THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND ALL FROM LOS ANGELES.

NOTHING FROM OTHER STATES.

THE RUGS CAME FROM OUR GREATGRANDFATHER.

BOY, WHO COLLECTS WHAT?

I LIKE THE DOLLS AND PICTURES.

MY MOTHER LIKES TRINKETS AND MY SISTER LIKES PHOTOGRAPHS.

I LIKE POSTCARDS.

WE HAVE EVERYTHING HERE.

LET'S GO INTO THE BACK ROOM.

I AM AFRAID OF BREAKING SOMETHING.

I AM AFRAID LUIS WILL BUMP INTO THAT GLASS LAMP.

I'M NERVOUS ABOUT THE GLASS.

LOOK AT THIS.

WHERE DID YOU KEEP THIS BEFORE YOU HAD THIS HOUSE?

MY MOTHER'S HOME.

SHE HAS A LARGE HOUSE.

A LOT OF IT IS THERE AND IN BOXES AND IN THE ATTIC.

EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY.

LOOK OVER HERE.

YOU HAVE A COLLECTION OF STATUE OF LIBERTIES.

EACH MONTH WE PUT ON A DIFFERENT DISPLAY.

THIS MONTH WAS 4TH OF JULY SO WE PUT OUT OUR STATUE OF LIBERTIES AND UNCLE SAM'S.

WE HAVE FUN CHANGING WITH THE SEASONS.

LOOK AT ALL THIS STUFF.

THIS IS THE?

OUR DINING ROOM.

DINING ROOM BACK HERE.

ONCE AGAIN ... LOOK OVER HERE.

BEAUTIFUL STUFF.

YOU TELL ME, ARE THESE ANTIQUES?

YES.

THEY'RE FROM THE EARLY 1800'S.

I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT PERIOD.

WHO KNOWS ABOUT THESE?

THEY'RE LIMOGNE CHINA.

THESE ARE "OBJECT ART," WHICH IS FOR DECORATION AND GOES WITH THE CLOCK.

THEY'RE FRENCH.

THEY'RE BRASS ORMOLU WITH GILDING ON THEM.

NOW, WHAT ABOUT THESE PAINTINGS?

THOSE ARE ORIGINAL COPIES OF MONET'S "THE ANGELES."

IT STOPPED AT 12:00 AT THE BELL TO SAY A PRAYER.

THERE'S A CHURCH IN THE BACKGROUND.

SO YOU KNOW EVERYTHING IN HERE?

I'M THE HISTORIAN.

REALLY?

I ENJOY COLLECTING.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO COLLECT?

"WASTE NOT, WANT NOT" IS MY MOTTO.

LOOK AT THIS.

A WHOLE CABINET.

WHAT'S IN HERE?

THERE'S DEPRESSION GLASS.

COOKIE JAR COLLECTION.

MY MOTHER HAS A COW CREAMER COLLECTION.

THIS IS A POURING PITCHER AND IT'S A MUSIC BOX.

LET'S GET THAT OUT.

THAT'S A MUSIC BOX.

THIS IS A MUSIC BOX?

(MUSIC PLAYING) THIS IS FROM THE EARLY 20'S.

SO A PERSON WHO REALLY KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE LOOKIN' FOR CAN COME IN HERE, AND THIS MUST BE A TREASURE TROUGH IN HERE.

WE TRY TO HAVE SOMETHING TO INTEREST EVERYBODY.

WE HAVE A VARIETY OF INTERESTS IN THE FAMILY.

WHO IS THE EXPERT ON THE KITCHEN?

YOU AGAIN?

YEAH.

THIS IS AN UNUSUALLY LARGE KITCHEN FOR A PRE-1900 HOUSE.

IT HAS ROOM TO SIT, COOK AND CLEAN.

IN 1920, THIS HOUSE BECAME A MATERNITY HOSPITAL, AND THIS IS A REMODELED SINK FOR THAT TIME.

FOR 7 YEARS, IT WAS A MATERNITY HOSPITAL.

WHERE DID THE DISHES COME FROM?

ALL OVER L.A. GREEN WAS A POPULAR COLOR FOR THE LAST 70 YEARS.

YOU ACTUALLY HAVE -- OH, THEY'RE LOCKED.

NOW, THAT'S ANOTHER QUESTION.

WHEN PEOPLE COME THROUGH HERE, DO THEY GET STICKY FINGERS?

NO, NO.

IT WAS MOSTLY BECAUSE OF THE LAST EARTHQUAKE.

I WOULD NOT WANT TO BE IN THIS HOUSE WHEN THINGS STARTED FALLIN' OFF THE SHELVES.

HOW MUCH DID YOU LOSE IN THE LAST EARTHQUAKE?

NOT TOO TERRIBLY MUCH.

THINGS GOT DISPLACED.

THINGS THAT WEREN'T LOCKED, WE DID LOSE.

I WANT TO LOOK IN A DRAWER.

IS THAT ALL RIGHT?

THIS LOOKS LIKE A GOOD ONE.

LOOK AT THIS STUFF THAT'S IN HERE.

ALL ORIGINALS.

GREEN WAS REALLY POPULAR.

THOSE ARE FROM THE 20'S, 30'S, 40'S AND 50'S.

LOOK UP HERE IN THE TOP HERE.

ALL THE ORIGINAL, OVALTINE TO DUNDEE EGGS?

THIS IS THE ONLY ORIGINAL PIECE OF FURNITURE LEFT.

THIS KEEPS THE EGGS COOL.

WHERE DID YOU GET ALL OF THIS?

ALL FROM ORIGINAL OWNERS.

WE CAN REMEMBER EACH ONE, IN AND AROUND LOS ANGELES.

YOU WERE TELLIN' ME ABOUT THIS LIGHT?

WE GOT THIS LAMP FROM A LADY WHO IS ALMOST 90.

SHE BOUGHT THIS IN THE 1915 EXPOSITION IN SAN DIEGO.

NOW HERE IN THE ENTRANCE, YOU HAVE THESE?

POCKET DOORS.

THAT GO INTO THE SIDE OF THE WALL.

LET'S GO ON UP.

THIS IS THE WONDERFUL, ORIGINAL, WOODEN STAIRCASE.

WE'RE GOIN' UPSTAIRS.

WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THE STUFF HERE IN THE HALL.

LOOK AT THIS.

THE MANTEL, CLOCK AND WONDERFUL STUFF THERE.

MANNEQUINS DRESSED IN PERIOD CLOTHING.

HERE WE GO, UPSTAIRS.

HERE IS MY GRANDMOTHER'S DIPLOMA, WHOM WE NAMED THE MUSEUM FOR.

WE HAVE A PICTURE OF HER AND MY MOTHER AND THREE BROTHERS AT GRADUATION TIME.

SO THIS IS LIKE A WAY TO PRESERVE THE FAMILY HISTORY AS WELL?

THAT'S TRUE, YES.

WHEN THEY CAME OUT TO CALIFORNIA.

AND SHOW GRANDMA'S DIPLOMA AND THINGS WE'VE COLLECTED.

ARE PEOPLE WHO VISIT THE HOUSE INTERESTED IN YOUR GRANDMOTHER'S DIPLOMA?

YES.

THEY'RE AMAZED THAT: ONE, SHE GRADUATED; AND TWO, IT'S QUITE A BIG DIPLOMA.

YOU GOT AN OLD TYPEWRITER, AN OLD TELEPHONE HERE, MAGNIFYING GLASS.

FAMILY ALBUM.

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL.

ANOTHER CASE FULL OF STUFF.

BACK HERE, A CLOSET.

WE SHOW MEN'S CLOTHES, SOME FROM THE DEPRESSION, SOME FROM THE TURN OF THE CENTURY.

OLD PHONOGRAPH.

A PAIR OF STETSON SHOES.

HERE IS A RED CROSS UNIFORM.

A GREAT AUNT'S UNIFORM.

SHE DID VOLUNTEER WORK.

WE PUT IT UP WITH THIS PICTURE IN THE CLOSET OF THE JOHNSTOWN FLOOD IN PENNSYLVANIA ABOUT 100 YEARS AGO.

THAT CAME FROM MY GRANDMOTHER.

SO THIS HAS BEEN RESEARCHED OUT A LOT MORE THAN WOULD MEET THE EYE.

THIS ISN'T JUST A COLLECTION.

NO, IT ISN'T.

WE INCORPORATED OUR FAMILY, ALONG WITH LOS ANGELES, ALONG WITH THE TIME PERIOD.

WELL, THE HOUSE JUST GOES ON AND ON.

HERE IS THE BLUE ROOM, IN HERE THAT'S FULL OF STUFF.

CLOTHES IN HERE?

WHAT'S IN HERE?

WELL, WE HAVE LADIES' CLOTHES IN HERE, MOSTLY FROM PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN AND AROUND L.A. WE HAVE A BLUE SILK/VELVET JERSEY CAPE.

THEN, THIS IS THE MASTER BEDROOM, WHICH IS BLUE.

WE HAVE HIS AND HER PEE POTS.

THE MAN WHO HAD THIS HOUSE BUILT HAD A WIFE AND DAUGHTER WHO HOGGED UP THE BATHROOM, SO SOMETIMES NECESSITY WOULD CALL, AND HE HAD TO USE THOSE ONCE IN AWHILE.

THIS IS FULL OF -- LOOK AT THIS.

MORE ROOMS, MORE ROOMS.

ANOTHER HUGE BEDROOM IN HERE FULL OF STUFF.

ANOTHER CLOSET FULL OF STUFF.

IT JUST GOES ON AND ON.

THIS IS THE PINK ROOM, THE GUEST ROOM.

HERE IS THE YELLOW ROOM.

THIS IS THE CHILDREN'S ROOM.

DOLLS AND TOYS.

FOREVER.

MISS PIGGY, LITTLE RASCALS.

OLDER DOLLS.

THESE ARE CHINA.

YES.

LOOK IN THE CLOSET HERE, ABSOLUTELY PACKED FULL OF STUFF.

KIDS MUST LOVE IT.

NOT SO MUCH THE KIDS AS THE OLDER KIDS.

LADIES CAN REMINISCE ABOUT THE DOLLS.

SOME THAT DIDN'T LISTEN TO THEIR MOTHER AND BROKE THEM SO THEY CAN REMEMBER.

WE'RE BACK OUT FRONT.

THIS HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL TOUR.

IS IT HARD TO START IT UP, AND GET THE PAPERWORK DONE AND GET IT LEGAL?

IT TAKES TIME TO DEAL WITH CITY HALL.

THEY GIVE YOU A LITTLE HARD TIME.

IF YOU CAN WITHSTAND CITY HALL, YOU CAN WITHSTAND ANYTHING.

SO YOU ARE A CERTIFIED MUSEUM?

YES.

AND A CULTURAL MONUMENT.

AND THE BUILDING IS A CULTURAL MONUMENT.

DO YOU ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME?

DO THEY NEED TO BOOK THE TOUR?

YES, BOOK IT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL PLACE HERE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR SHOWING ME AROUND.

THANK YOU.

HERE WE ARE ON BONNIE BRAE.

THIS IS A REAL GEM OF A SURPRISE, THE GRIER-MUSSER MUSEUM IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES.

A LITTLE BIT OF OUR HISTORY STILL ALIVE AND WELL.

NOW FOR OUR SECOND SURPRISE.

WE HAVE NOW COME TO LAMAR STREET, WHICH IS RIGHT OFF OF NORTH MAIN STREET ABOUT A MILE AND-A-HALF FROM DOWNTOWN L.A. LOOK WHAT'S HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS INDUSTRIAL PART OF TOWN, THE "SAN ANTONIO WINERY."

WE'RE GONNA VISIT HERE NEXT.

I SEE THAT THIS IS A CULTURAL HERITAGE CITY LANDMARK HERE.

SO THIS MUST BE A GOOD PLACE.

I'M HUELL HOWSER.

HI, STEVE RIBOLI.

STEVE RIBOLI, SR.

JUNIOR AND SENIOR HERE.

WELL, WE ARE DELIGHTED TO BE HERE.

ACTUALLY, I HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE.

IT'S A GREAT PLACE.

WHY IS THE WINERY LOCATED HERE?

WE BEGAN HERE IN 1917 IN THE MIDDLE OF ONE OF THE LARGEST ITALIAN COMMUNITIES.

THE AREA THAT SURROUNDED US, ABOUT 800 ACRES, WAS PROBABLY 5,000 ITALIAN FAMILIES.

REALLY?

THIS USED TO BE AN ITALIAN NEIGHBORHOOD.

BUT THE COMMUNITY IS GONE, BUT THE WINERY HAS REMAINED.

WE ARE HERE, "THE LAST OF THE MAHICANS."

I WANT TO GET INSIDE AND TAKE A LOOK.

YA'LL ARE GONNA GIVE US THE $5 TOUR.

HERE WE GO INSIDE.

NOW, HOW MANY WINERIES DID THERE USED TO BE IN L.A.?

20.

BACK IN THE -- BUT THEY ALL WENT OUT OF BUSINESS AFTER THE SECOND WORLD WAR.

WHY?

WELL, THE WINE BUSINESS IN THOSE DAYS WAS REAL BAD.

ALSO THE GRAPE -- THERE WAS VERY LITTLE GRAPE LEFT AT THAT TIME.

WE USED TO GET THE GRAPE ALL ALONG THE HILLS OF SIERRA MADRE, GLENDALE AND BURBANK, THERE USED TO BE A LOT OF GRAPES.

THEY USED TO BRING THEM DOWN HERE AND CRUSH THEM HERE.

SO YOU GOT YOUR GRAPES FROM THIS AREA?

FROM HERE AND FROM ONTARIO.

WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR GRAPES NOW?

NOW, THEY'RE ALL FROM UP NORTH.

NAPA?

NAPA AND MONTEREY, WE HAVE A NICE VINEYARD, AND ALSO WE BUY THEM FROM OTHER GROWERS.

NOW, IS THIS A HISTORIC ROOM HERE?

WELL, THIS IS ACTUALLY THE ORIGINAL ROOM OF THE WINERY.

THIS DATES BACK FROM OCTOBER OF 1917.

SO PART OF THIS BUILDING IS ABSOLUTELY ORIGINAL?

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY ORIGINAL.

THE WALL IS COVERED WITH PICTURES SO YOU ARE VERY PROUD OF YOUR HERITAGE.

THESE ARE OLD PHOTOS.

LOTS OF CHANGES.

CAN YOU POINT OUT THE MAIN GUYS HERE, THE ONES THAT STARTED IT ALL?

MY UNCLE SANTO STARTED THE WINERY IN 1917.

THESE ARE THE FOUR BROTHERS WHO CAME FROM ITALY IN 1912.

THIS IS HIM HERE AND ON THE TOP.

SO THEY WERE YOUR UNCLES WHO STARTED THIS?

MY UNCLES, MY MOTHER'S BROTHERS.

SO THIS IS A FAMILY BUSINESS, NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

HOW LONG YOU HAVE BEEN HERE?

SINCE 1938.

SO YOU KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOIN' HERE.

LET'S GO IN HERE TO THE HISTORIC MAIN ROOM.

YES.

THIS ROOM WAS ACTUALLY BUILT OUT OF A RAIL BOX CAR.

THE WOOD THAT YOU SEE HERE WITH THE TRUSSES AND TRELLIS AND SIDING IS OFF OF AN 1896 UNION PACIFIC BOX CAR THAT SUPPOSEDLY - THE WOOD WAS SUPPOSEDLY DISCARDED; WE'RE NOT SURE.

TODAY IT'S A BANQUET FACILITY.

BUT IN THE 30'S, THIS WAS IT.

WE WERE LIKE A MICRO-BREWERY.

WE WERE A MICRO-WINERY, SUPPLYING WINE TO 5,000 ITALIAN FAMILIES, WHO COULD CONSUME A LOT OF WINE.

THEY DRANK WINE WITH THE MEAL EVERY DAY.

NOW, YOU HAVE BRANCHED OUT A LOT SINCE THEN?

YES, A LOT.

A LOT MORE THAN 5,000 FAMILIES DRINK YOUR WINE?

NOW IT'S MAINLY THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS.

LET'S GET INTO THE -- OH, BOY, THESE ARE BEAUTIFUL.

THIS WAS A CARVING THAT WAS DONE ON A 140-YEAR-OLD OAK TANK.

A YUGOSLAVIAN GENTLEMAN -- AN ITALIAN GENTLEMAN -- I WAS VERY YOUNG AT THE TIME.

THIS WAS HAND-CARVED AND PUT ONTO THIS SLAVONIAN OAK TANK.

THE PLACE DEFINITELY HAS A LOT OF AMBIENCE.

NO QUESTION.

CAN PEOPLE TAKE A TOUR?

ABSOLUTELY.

WE ARE OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK.

WE OFFER TOURS ON THE HOUR FROM 12:00 TO 4:00.

NOW, THESE VATS LOOK LIKE THEY'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 1917.

YEAH.

THESE WERE BUILT AROUND THAT TIME.

THEN WE KEPT ADDING.

THAT'S WHERE WE STORED ALL THE WINE.

IN THESE VATS?

ALL REDWOOD.

IT'S GOOD FOR AGING RED WINE, PORT WINE, SHERRY; THEY WERE THE BEST.

WE STILL USE THEM NOW FOR THE SAME THING.

THERE'S AN AROMA IN THE AIR.

IT'S AN INTERESTING SMELL.

IT'S LIKE A BAKERY, IT'S DISTINCT.

YOU KNOW YOU'RE IN A WINERY.

NOW, WE HAVE GOT THE OLD REDWOOD VATS.

WE ALSO HAVE -- THESE LOOK LIKE BRAND-NEW STAINLESS STEEL VATS?

RIGHT.

THIS IS MODERN TECHNOLOGY.

THESE ARE STAINLESS STEEL, JACKETED FERMENTING TANKS.

THIS ONE HERE HOLDS ABOUT 65,000 BOTTLES.

WOW!

WE HOLD ALMOST 4 MILLION BOTTLES OF PRODUCT.

THAT'S A LONG WAY FROM THE EARLY DAYS, ISN'T IT?

LET'S LOOK MORE BACK HERE.

THIS IS GETTIN' INTERESTING.

OH, WOW!

LOOK AT THESE VATS BACK HERE.

THAT'S A ROOM WE ADDED BACK IN 1955.

WOW!

WE BOUGHT THESE TANKS FROM ANOTHER WINERY AND MOVED IT HERE.

THESE WERE OLD, TAKEN APART AND PUT BACK TOGETHER HERE.

YOU WERE TELLIN' ME THERE WERE A LOT OF COLORFUL STORIES ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THIS WINERY.

WE ARE RICH IN HISTORY AND RICH IN WONDERFUL STORIES.

OUR SURVIVAL IS THE BIGGEST STORY.

THERE HAVE BEEN TOUGH TIMES IN OUR INDUSTRY.

ONE OF THEM WAS CALLED "PROHIBITION."

THAT WOULD PRETTY WELL SPELL TOUGH TIMES FOR A WINE-MAKER.

ABOUT 8 YEARS OF TOUGH TIMES.

WE WERE LUCKY, IN ONE ASPECT.

WE WERE INNOVATIVE IN ANOTHER ASPECT.

WE STAYED OPEN DURING PROHIBITION BY SERVICING THE CATHOLIC CHURCHES WITH WINES.

THAT WAS LEGAL?

IT WAS LEGAL FOR US.

THERE WERE VERY FEW WINERIES THAT REMAINED OPEN.

WE SUPPLIED -- BEING AN ITALIAN ENCLAVE WHERE WINE WAS "BLOOD" TO THEM.

WE SUPPLIED THE CHURCHES WITH ALTAR WINES, AND WE ALSO SUPPLIED MEDICINAL WINES.

SO IF YOU WERE NOT FEELING WELL, YOU COULD GO TO THE LOCAL DRUGSTORE AND BUY A BOTTLE OF WINE MADE WITH SPECIAL HERBS FROM ITALY.

I AM SURE IT WOULD PERK YOU RIGHT UP.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE FEELIN' DOWN IN THE BACK?

ACHES AND PAINS.

THAT WAS INNOVATIVE AND ENABLED YOU TO REMAIN OPEN?

IT'S THE ONLY REASON WE'RE HERE TODAY.

THIS IS OUR BOTTLE FACILITY.

TODAY WE ARE RUNNING A 750 MILLILITER, WHICH IS A FIFTH BOTTLE.

THIS IS DESTINED FOR ENGLAND.

"PINO BLANC."

NOW IS THIS PRETTY MUCH THE WAY THEY DID IT IN THE EARLY DAYS?

IN THE EARLY DAYS WE DID IT BY HAND.

EVERYTHING WAS DONE BY HAND.

LABELING, FILLING, CORK, EVERYTHING BY HAND.

SO YOU USED TO HAVE TO EMPLOY A LOT MORE PEOPLE?

AT THAT TIME, THE PRODUCTION WAS NOT AS MUCH, SO WE NEEDED 2 OR 3 HELPERS, THAT'S ALL.

WE STARTED THE RESTAURANT HERE IN 1974.

IT WAS A SMALL DINING AREA.

WE HAVE EXPANDED A BIT SINCE THEN.

YEAH.

THIS IS WONDERFUL.

HERE IS A CUSTOMER WE HAVE CAUGHT OFF GUARD.

I HAD A WONDERFUL LUNCH OF LASAGNA.

ARE YOU A REGULAR?

I COME HERE FREQUENTLY.

I AM HERE TODAY BECAUSE WE ARE HAVING A FUNDRAISER HERE ON SUNDAY.

SO I CAME TO FINALIZE PLANS.

SO YOU'RE HAVIN' A FUNDRAISER HERE?

YES, WE ARE.

WHO IS IN CHARGE?

YOU LOOK LIKE YOU ARE?

WE'RE BOTH IN CHARGE.

HI, HUELL HOWSER.

HOW ARE YOU RELATED?

WE'RE MOTHER AND DAUGHTER.

I'M CATHY RIBOLI AND THIS IS MOM, MADDALENA RIBOLI.

STEVE IS YOUR BROTHER AND STEVE, SR., IS YOUR FATHER?

RIGHT.

YOUR HUSBAND?

RIGHT; MY OLDEST SON, SANTO, IS IN EUROPE RIGHT NOW.

NOW WHAT HAVE WE GOT GOIN'?

I WANT TO SHARE THIS?

WE HAVE AN ITALIAN-STYLE, FAMILY-STYLE TRATTORIA, CALLED "MADDALENA CUCINA."

IT'S AN INFORMAL STYLE WITH DAILY SPECIALTIES.

WE MAKE 20 DIFFERENT HOT ENTREES.

YOU USE THE OLD FAMILY RECIPES?

FROM GRANDMOTHER; IT'S NORTHERN ITALIAN COOKING.

WE HAVE MANY SPECIALTIES, LIKE CHICKEN MARSALA, VEAL SCALLOPINE, FLORENTINE LASAGNA.

MANY SALADS WITH GOOD, WHOLESOME INGREDIENTS AND GOOD OLIVE OIL.

LET'S SHOW 'EM THE DINING ROOM, THE REAL PAYOFF.

THIS IS SUCH A WONDERFUL PLACE, I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

LOOK AT THIS.

YOU'VE REALLY -- YOU SPECIALIZE, NOT ONLY IN FOOD BUT AMBIENCE.

YES.

PEOPLE COME HERE TO RELAX.

SOME WORK IN THE AREA.

OTHERS ARE FAMILIES, SENIOR CITIZENS.

IT'S A VERY CASUAL, INFORMAL PLACE.

HOW DOES THIS PLAY OFF THE WINERY ITSELF?

PEOPLE WHO COME FOR LUNCH OR DINNER, USUALLY GO ON A TOUR OF THE WINERY AND HAVE A NICE SAMPLE AND LEARN ABOUT OUR WINES.

WE ALSO HAVE RETIREMENT PARTIES AND BANQUETS.

SO ONE PERSON TELLS THE OTHER.

IT'S WORD OF MOUTH.

WE DON'T ADVERTISE.

THAT'S THE END OF OUR TOUR OF THE "SAN ANTONIO WINERY."

THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL PLACE.

WHEN YOU THINK THAT YOU COULD HAVE LEFT HERE AT ANY TIME DURING THE LAST 70 OR 80 YEARS?

WE HAVE QUITE A FEW GENERATIONS TO TAKE CARE OF.

WE'RE HERE TO STAY.

YOU'RE GONNA STAY?

ABSOLUTELY.

WAS THERE EVER ANY PERIOD IN YOUR HISTORY WHEN YOU THOUGHT YOU MIGHT LEAVE AND GO SOMEWHERE ELSE WITH THE WINERY?

NEVER FIGURED THAT.

ALWAYS FIGURED WE WERE GONNA STAY HERE.

WE'RE ESTABLISHED HERE AND WE HATE TO MOVE.

LOS ANGELES IS OUR HOMETOWN.

YOU'RE HERE TO STAY?

YES.

THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH.

THIS IS TRULY A WONDERFUL SURPRISE HERE IN LOS ANGELES.

CAPTIONED BY THE LLOYD E. RIGLER & LAWRENCE E. DEUTSCH CAPTIONING CENTER AT KCET.