The patriarch of the Barca family was Joseph Barca. He came from a long line of wine makers. Joseph Barca spoke nine different languages; he was an intelligent man who made friends of everyone he met.

Joseph Barca met and married a young Annie Muschetto in Louisiana. Early in the 1900's they moved to Roseville, California. There they put into practice Joseph's knowledge of farming. They made wine, cheese, grew grapes, grains, hay and vegetables. Joseph was a very hard worker and a successful farmer. He purchased over 159 vineyards along with many other crops.

In 1942, Joseph was diagnosed with a brain disease. Then on April 9, 1950 he died on his way back from viewing one of his wheat crops near Lincoln, California. He was laid to rest at the Veterans Cemetery at Sylvan Corners in Citrus Heights, California.