Roseville resident Gino Barca is the executive consultant for his grandchildren and daughters who run Barca International Wineries and Vineyards, which owns some 800 brands and wine labels.

“We have one of the biggest trademarks and copyright labels in the world,” said Barca, who graduated from Roseville High School in 1955.

Barca has lived in Roseville his entire life and remembers the days when the city was the site for miles of vineyards. His family began growing grapes in Italy and came to the United States upon the advice of some relatives to begin a farming career that besides grapes included peaches and figs.

What are your memories of the early days of Roseville?

“I remember when my dad would put me out in the field to work. I remember my life between the ages of 4 and 12. I especially recall the middle school I attended. We had about 13-20 kids in the class and I was the only boy to graduate in my class during those years. Shipping and hauling grapes was hard work. I used to drive the tractor and I remember we planted wheat along the road.”

It sounds like lots of work. Did you ever have time for fun?

“I did play baseball at Roseville High School for a while but then had to quit when my dad died and I had to run the vineyards. I had to take care of the farm and my mother. We were very self-sufficient. My mother made cheese and we made our own bread.”

How would you compare those days to life in the 21st century?

“In the old days we had people dying from all the wars. Then FDR became president and he got the country out of the Depression. I think things are good today. The bad economy of today shouldn’t scare people. Most people today are proud of America in their hearts.”

Tell me more about Barca Wines.

“The Barca family business started more than 2,250 years ago in the nation of Carthage where Hannibal Barca, my ancestor, lived. Barcelona, Spain was named for the Barca family. I still travel all over the world overseeing the family trademark business. The company is still growing. We’re big in Italy and we ship to the Northeast and to San Francisco.”

You’ve had such an interesting and varied life. What’s next on your agenda?

“I wrote a book. It’s a combination of family history and wine labels. It’s called, “Vino with Gino” and it’s due to come out in January 2009. The book has 20 distributors and will be sold for $59.95.

I really enjoyed doing the writing because it made me feel like I was re-living some of those old days.”