Early Years: Growing Up in the Vineyard
Some of Winemaker Jason DeLoach's earliest memories are of growing up on Barbieri Ranch, the historic "old vine" vineyard owned at the time by his grandfather Cecil DeLoach. As a child, Jason was a constant companion to his grandfather, trailing Cecil through the vineyards and helping out where he could. Later, as a teenager, Jason worked with Cecil in the vineyards and winery during summer breaks, and eventually joined the winery full time when he graduated from high school in 1998.
Learning the Craft
Although he was the boss's grandson, Jason started at the bottom when he made the move into the DeLoach Vineyards cellar, learning every aspect of the winery's site-specific winemaking—from receiving and processing grapes to cleaning and maintaining the equipment. Soon Jason moved up to Production Coordinator and became more involved in the winemaking process. At this point, he realized that winemaking was more than the default family business; it was, for him, a real and growing passion, and he was eager to learn more.
Like his grandfather before him, Jason took viticulture classes with Rich Thomas at Santa Rosa Junior College while also studying enology at UC Davis. In 1999, when offered the opportunity to work harvest in Chile, Jason jumped at the chance. The trip proved invaluable to his work back home. Not only were his eyes opened to new techniques in both the vineyard and cellar, but given that he lived and worked with the local winery crew, he quickly learned to speak "cellar" Spanish.
Jason's approach to winemaking is rooted in three generations of knowledge and a deep respect for the land. He believes great wines are made in the vineyard first—and his job in the cellar is to guide that fruit to its fullest expression without getting in the way. Working with estate fruit from Russian River Valley and Chalk Hill, Jason crafts small-lot wines that showcase each vineyard's unique character. From elegant Pinot Noir to bold Cabernet Sauvignon, every wine tells the story of its origin—the soil, the climate, the vintage, and the hands that tended it.His winemaking is hands-on, site-specific, and guided by curiosity. Jason isn't afraid to experiment, to push boundaries, or to let the vineyard speak for itself. The result is a diverse portfolio that honors tradition while embracing innovation.
