| Article: | When the valley met the vine: The American era begins During the 27-year Mexican period in California, 1821-1848, the few and rugged arrivals from the U.S. and the rest of the world were usually hunters or traders not necessarily planning to stay. Some, however, did stay; among them, in the Napa Valley, George Yount, Edward Bale and William Wolfskill, now recognized as pioneers of the California wine industry. |