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| In 1861, Calvin Holmes and his wife Elvira purchased much of Knights Valley. |
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| Vineyards and wineries were established in Knights Valley in the late 1800s. |
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| The historic town of Kellogg, which provided inspiration for the architecture of Peter Michael Winery. |
Over a million years ago, through three distinct geologic ages, the valley and mountains that make up the area known today as Knights Valley was created. For thousands of years (estimates are from four to eleven thousand years), this territory was inhabited by a sect of one of the longest continuous inhabiting Native American Indian tribes in California. These people were the “Mutistul”, one of the three distinct groups occupying Napa Valley, Knights Valley and Alexander Valley and known as the “Wappo” or “guapo” for “brave”. Towering over the Knights Valley is Mount St. Helena which was known to this former tribe as kana'mota or human mountain.
Life in this valley was idyllic and undisturbed for the Wappo Indians. The hallmarks of their unique culture was a deep respect for their elders and devotion to their children, with an emphasis on peacefulness and kindness to all living creatures. Family villages were self-governing and subject to the higher council of the larger ruling tribal unit.
Two intersecting trails known to have been used by the Wappo help tell the story of important aspects of their lives. One trail came down the Ida Clayton ridge, across the valley floor and then up and over the long ridge of Firs ending at the Pacific coast where the Wappo gathered salt, seaweed and seashells. The other trail traversed the length of the valley extending from the most southerly end of the Napa Valley to the geysers and hot springs located in the north. The crossing of the two trails was at Kellogg, once a town and now the site of Peter Michael Winery.
Farming for the Wappo Indians was in accordance with the perfect natural order and featured a respectful and thoughtful management of resources, a necessity towards insuring healthy and bountiful harvests. These harvests furnished the materials needed to provide food, shelter, medicine, and tools for the survival of the tribe.
For a time, the Wappo defied the ways of the Spaniards and resisted their attempts to invade and assimilate. Within a very brief time this ancient and proud people was brought to near-extinction through the slaughter and forced relocation imposed by the Spanish conquerors. Eventually the Wappo culture and language were lost
Very few people inhabited the valley in 1843 when a 17,742 acre land grant was given to Jose de los Santos Berryessa as a reward from the Mexican Governor for his years of good service. Most of Knights Valley (known as Mallacomes Valley) and Calistoga (Known as Agua Caliente) was within this grant. Knights Valley became Berryessa's private hunting preserve where he built an adobe hunting lodge that remains to this day. In 1850, after the Mexican War, California became part of the United States and most of the Spanish settlers including Berryessa returned to Mexico.
Thomas B. Knight, a participant in the Bear Flag Revolt at Sonoma bought a large portion of Rancho Mallacomes from Berryessa and received title to the land in 1853. He called his rancho, Muristood, added a second story to the lodge and planted vineyards, peaches, apples and wheat. Mallocomes Valley would later be renamed “Knights Valley” after Thomas Knight.
In 1861, Calvin Holmes purchased much of Knights Valley. He and his wife Elvira built a large Victorian house that stands to this day. Holmes also designed and began building the beginnings of a small town. Real estate moguls F.E. Kellogg and W.A. Stuart entered the picture and began building a small resort town modeled after Calistoga. This town, which was called Kellogg, can still be found on present day maps. At the time, Kellogg included the area from the Berryessa Adobe to the intersection of Ida Clayton Road and Highway 128. At one time the town consisted of a general store, a school, several cottages, summer cabins, a hotel and winery. Unfortunately, the town never developed into the vision held by Kellogg and it eventually was destroyed through a series of fires.
The original Sugarloaf Ranch house was built by the Holmes in 1887 for their son, Frank, and his new bride, Jennie. For half a century until 1939, several generations of the Holmes family prospered here. By 1912, the leading crop in Knights Valley was grapes. First prohibition from 1917 to 1933 followed by grape vine diseases brought an end to the three wineries and surrounding vineyards that had been established in the late 1800's.
In 1939 the ranch was sold and over the next forty years it passed through several hands before Peter and Maggie Michael purchased the ranch in 1982. By that time very little remained of the town of Kellogg. A large fire in 1964 burned all of Kellogg except the winery, the Adobe, and the two houses built by Calvin and Elvira Holmes and another fire in '68 destroyed the Post Office and general store.
The Knights Valley has not changed dramatically since the turn of the century. Wildlife is still prevalent. Vineyards dominate the valley floor and lower foothills along with a few cattle ranches and fruit orchards.
