Vineyards in Sonoma County, California have been producing wonderful wines for over 150 years. The combinations of soils, topography and climate have made the area one of the prominent wine grape producing regions in the nation.
Sonoma-Loeb has been growing grapes in Sonoma County’s Alexander Valley and the Russian River Valley since 1973. The appellations are known for their rolling wooded hillsides, picturesque landscapes and highly sought after Chardonnay and Pinot Noir fruit. Sonoma-Loeb grapes have been purchased by many of California’s leading wineries and have contributed to the award winning Sonoma-Loeb portfolio of wines.
Winemaker Phillip Titus hand crafted these wines using old world techniques along with modern methods to create truly exceptional Burgundian Style Sonoma County wines. Sonoma-Loeb Chardonnays are 100% barrel-fermented in French oak and remain in contact with the lees for up to eight months. While aging in barrel, the wines go through malolatic fermentation to produce the rich, buttery and rounded flavors noted in Burgundy’s most famous white wines. Further barrel ageing adds spicy oak and brioche aromas that add even more complexity and depth to the wine.
The result is an opulent, sophisticated wine with a rich layering of textures, aromas and flavors accompanied by a long and satisfying finish.
Sonoma-Loeb’s Pinot Noir is grown in the coolest regions of Sonoma County where this delicate varietal is allowed to slowly ripen and develop the flavors and concentration sought after in the best Pinot Noirs. The fruit is fermented in small open top fermenters where it is punched down throughout the fermentation for maximum extraction. To add additional flavor nuances to the wine, only the grapes natural yeast is used during fermentation. After 12 months of aging in French oak barrels, the wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered so that none of the vineyard’s essence is removed from the wine.
Our Vineyards
Alexander Valley
Sonoma –Loeb’s 47 acre Garrison Ranch has a desirable Alexander Valley location adjacent to the well-known Robert Young Vineyard. These acres yield fruit that displays the concentration and tropical fruit spiciness that has made this microclimate famous. Vineyard soils contain sandstone, shale, oceanic crust and sediments. The warm afternoons and cool nights create optimum temperature swings for developing varietal fruit characteristics and even ripening.
Russian River Valley
The cool climate Hanson Ranch in the Russian River Valley is planted entirely to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Long summers and evenings with regular intrusions of cooling fog from the Pacific Ocean, create an ideal growing environment for these sensitive varieties. This lovely 69 acre vineyard borders the Russian River and is not far from the world renowned Bohemian Grove.