Press Releases
PIONEERING RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY WINERY CELEBRATES 30TH ANNIVERSARY AND ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR THE COMING YEARS
April 15, 2005
Santa Rosa, CA – DeLoach Vineyards celebrates its 30th Anniversary this year and looks to the future focusing on small-production wines and responsible farming practices. With a strong winemaking team led by Greg La Follette and Julia Crosby, new Viticulturist Ginny Lambrix, and a partnership with the Boisset family, the winery has re-emerged as a premium producer of terroir-driven wines from the Russian River Valley.
“2005 is a big year for DeLoach, and we have all of the support we need from the Boisset family to achieve our goals. We are incredibly passionate about our Russian River Valley heritage and are more focused than ever on the Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Zinfandel program,” says Michael DeLoach, Executive Vice President of DeLoach Vineyards.
Known as a pioneer of the Russian River Valley, DeLoach Vineyards continues its longstanding tradition of quality, practicing winemaking that combines age-old Burgundian techniques with innovation. The winery has committed its future to a rigorous application of organic and biodynamic methods in its estate vineyards, which include following the lunar calendar, incorporating biodynamic preparations on the vines, and planting cover crops that maintain vital, healthy soil.
DeLoach Vineyards recently hired Viticulturist Ginny Lambrix to spearhead the effort to move the estate toward these principles. As part of this program, DeLoach Vineyards removed 20 acres of vineyards surrounding the winery to plant new Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines. In alignment with its long-term vision, DeLoach Vineyards will let this land "rest" for one calendar year, leading the winery’s efforts toward sustainable and biodynamic farming methods.
“We strive to produce wines that express the character and place of the Russian River Valley, and we’re doing all that is necessary to achieve that aspiration,” comments Michael DeLoach. The winery also plans to keep yields low and focus on traditional winemaking methods. DeLoach Vineyards is now using a number of open top wooden fermenters from France, and the crushed grapes for the estate wines are hand plunged during fermentation rather than subjected to mechanical methods.
In order to commemorate this landmark year, the winery will host an anniversary celebration and has released a limited edition label. To honor the original vineyards surrounding the winery, a special 30th Anniversary Cuvee will be released in very limited quantities later this year. DeLoach Vineyards is also completely remodeling its tasting room with renowned wine-country architect Howard Backen; the grand opening is scheduled for Memorial Day weekend.
DeLoach Vineyards has been making wine in the Russian River Valley since
1975 and is known for its exemplary Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Zinfandel.
Since November 2003 DeLoach has been a part of Boisset, La Famille des
Grands Vins, the largest producer of Pinot Noir worldwide. DeLoach Vineyards
is committed to producing high-quality, small production wines from the
Russian River Valley in an environmentally supportive way. Visit www.deloachvineyards.comfor
more information.
