C & C Wine Service

At Hook & Ladder Winery, we are proud to continue the legacy of one of Russian River Valley's most influential wine families. Our journey began in 1970 when Cecil De Loach, a San Francisco firefighter at the time, and his wife Christine, purchased the prized Barbieri Ranch in Russian River Valley's coveted Olivet Road district. Despite having no background in farming or grape growing, the couple was driven by their dream of owning and working together. For his part, Louis Barbieri, whose father Italo planted the vineyard in 1905, was thrilled to pass the vineyard on to a family committed to honoring its past and stewarding its future.

Our Story

As pioneers in the Russian River Valley, the De Loach family played a significant role in defining the appellation. In 1973, Cecil and Christine became the first to plant Pinot Noir on Olivet Road when they purchased a second vineyard property. The 17-acre site, still home to Old Vine Zinfandel (planted in the 1880s) and those planted to Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Gewurztraminer, would later become home to the family's first winery, De Loach Vineyards.

Our Legacy

Under the guidance of Cecil and Christine, the De Loach family emerged as leaders of the Russian River Valley movement and were among the first to use that designation on their labels. They were founding members of the Sonoma County Winery Co-op, with Cecil going on to become president of the group. Both Cecil and Christine served as board members for Sonoma County Vintners, California Wine Institute, and Sonoma County Vintners Co-Op. They were tireless advocates for site-sensitive and environmentally friendly farming practices, including the use of nutrient-rich cover crops and beneficial insects, birds, and biologics. In fact, Christine played a crucial role in drafting the first California Code of Sustainable Winegrowing in 1999.

A New Beginning

After the sale of De Loach Vineyards in 2003 to French vintners Boisset Family Estates, Cecil and Christine continued to farm and make wines from their sustainable vineyards in Russian River Valley. In 2003, they launched Hook & Ladder Winery on Olivet Road, just down the street from their original De Loach Vineyards. Named for Cecil's 17-year career as a San Francisco firefighter, Hook & Ladder is helmed today by grandson Jason De Loach, an accomplished winemaker who joined the winery in 2006. Hook & Ladder specializes in small bottlings of Pinot Noir, "Old Vine" Zinfandel, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Bordeaux-style blends sourced from the family's sustainably-farmed vineyards in Russian River Valley and its sub-appellation, Chalk Hill.

Today

Today, Cecil and Christine can often be found at the winery they founded, helping out in the office, cellar, and occasionally in the tasting room, which is adorned with fire station t-shirts given to the winery by visiting firefighters from around the world. Join us as we celebrate our legacy, our passion for sustainable winemaking, and our commitment to honoring the past while stewarding the future of the Russian River Valley.