The Nimbus Winery has a proud and productive past. Vineyards for the Nimbus Winery were first planted in 1873, twenty years after the 1849 Gold Rush was at its peak. At that time, the Natomas Water and Mining Company turned from declining prospects in the gold fields to agriculture.

The vineyards grew from 150 acres in the first year to 2,000 acres in 1885. It was the LARGEST vineyard in the WORLD! Wine varieties produced here were:  Zinfandel, Black Burgundy, Colombar, and Mossell Riesling. The winery building consisted of a 3,500 sq. ft. distillery where brandy was made and two 20,000 sq. ft. buildings – one for fermentation and the second for wine storage. At its peak, the Nimbus Winery provided 200,000 gallons of wine and 100,000 gallons of brandy. Shipments were made throughout the world on the Sacramento Valley Railroad, California’s first railroad, which ran through the vineyard.

An event in the early 1890’s would shape the future for the Nimbus Winery. The gold dredge was developed. It was operated by two men, 24 hours a day, and was able to produce as much gold in one month as the army of 49’er Gold Rushers could produce in one year! The GOLD RUSH was on AGAIN!

Initially, gravel shelves along the American River were dredged, including Mississippi Bar and Sailor Bar, but eventually dry-land dredging evolved.  Lands offering the greatest potential profit were located in an ancient riverbed. The Nimbus Winery vineyards were planted in this ancient riverbed. The prospect of gold was too appealing and the vineyards were dredged for the “magic mineral.” The Natomas Water and Mining Company was back in business - the gold mining business!
The Nimbus Winery buildings were bought in 1913 by:  Libby, McNeill & Libby, for the development of an olive cannery. Libby added a framed building along Folsom Boulevard in 1920. Olive canning continued until 1974, when the independently owned olive orchards in Orangevale were subdivided for residential housing. The building complex and eight acres were purchased in 1977 by local developers, and the transformation began from its proud heritage to the contemporary use of a shopping center.

In the not so distant past, the Nimbus Winery shopping center included three major restaurants, a dinner theater, and a delightful collection of specialty shops. Today, the Nimbus Winery property is the home to two major restaurants, an indoor glow-in-the-dark mini-golf center, a bridal shop, a specialty toy store, a comedy club, executive suites, and, staying with tradition, for the first time in over one hundred years, a winery.