Vintners' ghost stories mix wines and spirits

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Eric Risberg

Ghost Wineries

In this photo taken Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011, Richard and Leslie Mansfield pose by their Franco-Swiss ghost winery in St. Helena, Calif. Built in the 1870s, the winery is being renovated by the Mansfields, who are now producing wine as the Mansfield Winery, but plan to reopen under the original Franco-Swiss name when the restoration is completed. The winery was founded by three men who met while working at Charles Krug and by 1884 was producing 100,000 gallons of wine annually. But it was forced to shut down by the early 20th century due to Prohibition.

Eric Risberg

Ghost Wineries

This Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011, photo shows the Charles Krug winery in St. Helena, Calif. At Charles Krug, interest in the past is particularly strong this year, the 150th anniversary. The winery was founded in 1861 and there have long been stories of employees sensing a ghostly presence and even a few reported sightings of a lady in white walking the upper floors of the Redwood Cellar, which dates back to the 1870s.

Eric Risberg

Ghost Wineries

This Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011, photo shows barrels in front of the facade of the Chateau Montelena winery in Calistoga, Calif. The winery was founded in 1882 by Alfred L. Tubbs and was a major producer in the Napa Valley by the turn of the century, only to fall largely into disuse after Prohibition. The property was revived in the early '70s when James Barrett bought the estate.

Eric Risberg

Ghost Wineries

This Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011, photo shows the interior of the Franco-Swiss ghost winery in St. Helena, Calif. Built in the 1870s, the winery is being renovated by Richard and Leslie Mansfield, who are now producing wine as the Mansfield Winery, but plan to reopen under the original Franco-Swiss name when the restoration is completed. The winery was founded by three men who met while working at Charles Krug and by 1884 was producing 100,000 gallons of wine annually. But it was forced to shut down by the early 20th century due to Prohibition.