Founded by Scottish gold miner James Skinner in 1861 in the community that became known as Skinners, the J. Skinner Native Wine and Brandy Co. was strategically placed on the Pony Express Trail and was one of the first commercial vineyards in the country; by 1883 it was one of the largest, with a stone wine cellar capable of storing 15,000 gallons of wine. The multi-story distillery stood on the opposite side of Green Valley Road and was a very modern plant for the time, with a boiler room powered by a six-horse engine. The winery operated until the early years of the 20th century.