Joaquin Murrieta was the legendary Mexican leader of a horse gang. Murrieta was an outlaw for some and a popular hero for others during the tumultuous days of the Gold Rush years. His fame has endured in California over the years as an example of the mystery and romance of a bygone era.

As legend has it, the more positive aspects of the gold rush life emerged in relation to Joaquin. Joaquin Murrieta was noted as a "handsome folk hero driven to crime by social injustices." He was steadfast in his loyalty to his gang, his friends and associates. It is written that he loved his ladies and his horses, taking good care of them. Joaquin and his gang would round up wild horses from the Sacramento delta region and bring them to his campsite at the artesian well. The gang would later drive the horses and take their gold down to Sonora, Mexico to give to the poor. As for the ladies? Joaquin made sure they were well provided for!

Lore has it that Joaquin Murrieta buried gold and loot in numerous caves and secret places in the Livermore Valley and surrounding hills. Treasure maps were plentiful during his day, suggesting where his loot was buried. But it is said, that he generously gave to the poor (and his ladies) and there was not much treasure left.

Today, Murrieta's Well winery is named after the artesian well that is located in front of the winery building where the legendary Joaquin Murrieta and his band of desperados watered their horses.

NOTE: There have been dozens of books published on the subject of Joaquin Murietta. The first book was The Life and Adventures of Joaquin Murietta, Celebrated California Bandit by John Rollin Ridge published 1854, a year after his postulated demise. Of great interest to Sergio Traverso is the visit to California of fellow Chilean and Nobel Prize winning poet Pablo Neruda, which resulted in the play Falgor y Muerte de Joaquín Murieta (The Splendor and Death of Joaquín Murieta) published in 1967.