WineDay: De Loach Vineyards

by Fred McMillin
for November 21, 1997

Winery of the Week

The De Loach Approach

Prologue:

Chardonnay has become the Russian River Valley's king.
... "The Wine Atlas of California," Bob Thompson
De Loach Sonoma Cuvee is made entirely from Russian River Valley Chardonnay grapes.
...Cecil De Loach

The Rest of the Story: Wine-by-the-glass restaurant sales were De Loach's marketing target when Sonoma Cuvee Chardonnay was introduced in 1994. Young-vine Russian River grapes were converted to an immediately-drinkable Chardonnay. The public liked it...so De Loach has now released its fourth vintage, the 1995...gentle, refreshing, six months in French oak, made to support, not overwhelm, fish and fowl dishes...all for a bargain $12.

The Wine:
1995 Sonoma Cuvee Chardonnay
100% Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
De Loach Vineyards
Santa Rosa, CA
Phone—(707) 526-9111
$12 (excellent value)

Postscript: Founder-owners Christine and Cecil De Loach both graduated in anthropology. To learn how they were bitten by Bacchus, see our May 23, 1997 WineDay.

About the Writer

Fred McMillin, a veteran wine writer, has taught wine history for 30 years on three continents. He currently teaches wine courses at San Francisco State and San Francisco City College and is Northern California Editor for American Wine on the Web. In 1995, the Academy of Wine Communications honored Fred with one of only 22 Certificates of Commendation awarded to American wine writers.

Read more articles by Fred McMillin in the eGGsf

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