In 1769, Spanish Franciscan missions established extensive vineyards along the California coast, marking the beginning of California's wine industry. These missions aimed to cultivate grapes for sacramental wine, but they also laid the foundation for commercial viticulture in the region. The expansion of mission viticulture significantly influenced California's agricultural landscape and contributed to its reputation as a premier wine-producing state.

The expansion of California mission viticulture beginning in 1769 contributed to the romanticization of California wine culture in American literature. Poets like Robinson Jeffers celebrated the landscape and its bounty in works such as 'The Women at Point Sur,' intertwining nature and culture to reflect on the human experience.