The Wines of Deerfield Ranch
Anna and I discovered Deerfield Ranch Winery on our last trip to Napa and Sonoma. We try to travel there at least once per year, and we often travel with friends or family. We had some of our best couple friends along with us on this particular trip. We belong to several wine clubs in Napa and Sonoma, which we always make time to visit when we’re in the neighborhood. But, we always save time to drive around and randomly turn off the road when something catches our eye. We have found many wonderful wineries this way, and the spirit of adventure is always fun. It doesn’t really matter where you decide to go as long as you have an open mind about what they offer.
We got really lucky on this turn. When we arrived at Deerfield, we were greeted by a lovely pond on the property as well as quite a bit of art. They have two statues of Giraffes on a small island in the middle of the pond as you enter their winery. We parked and walked up to what we thought was the tasting room. We entered and found out that they host their tastings in their cave. Many wineries in Napa and Sonoma have caves to store and age their wines. It is more rare to find a hosted tasting in one of those caves. It is even more rare to find one that doesn’t require a reservation. We were thrilled about all of this, but of course the real test is in the wine.
Our host was impressed that we had just stumbled upon the winery, and he vowed to make our experience a good one. He did not disappoint. By the time we were finished, we had tasted most of the list, including many of the library wines (Wines that have been aged and stored by the winery). In addition, we didn’t taste one we didn’t like. We really loved them all! Our couple friends joined the wine club on the spot so that we could get a discount on the massive amount of wine we ordered that day. I did not join because I already belonged to four wine clubs, and I was hesitant to join a fifth. We came back for another tasting two days later, and I have been a member ever since. It has been great. I appreciate so many things about this winery.
Every wine I have tried from Deerfield is delicious.
They age their wines appropriately. As I write this article in July of 2020, we are receiving 2013 and 2014 wines from them in our regular club shipments. Understandably, some of the pinots and whites are younger, but in general we receive wines that are already six or seven years old. It is clear that they take the time to properly store and age their current releases, which is very rare in the industry.
They are dedicated to clean wine. Currently, there are 60 chemical materials that the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau allow to be added to wine. Clean wine is made from fermented grapes and nothing else. Drinking clean wine is healthier for you, and will help if you tend to get hangovers from drinking wine. You can read more about their clean wine commitment here.
They print nutrition facts on their bottles. This is extremely rare. It is really nice to know that their zinfandel contains 2.6 grams of residual sugar, especially if you’re trying to eat a certain way. There is no way to know any of that information when it comes to most wines.
They offer a large number of varietals and blends, and they are all delicious.
They are reasonably priced, especially when you consider the age and quality of the wine. Their 2013 Sonoma Valley Zinfandel is a steal at $42. I can honestly say that I’ve ordered more than two cases of that Zin over the last year. I love it. Their 2014 Sauv Amaro Reserve Cabernet is also a steal at $58. It is already six years old, and it is drinking like a dream. I highly recommend it.
They give to charity in the community. Right now they are partnering with Transcendence Theatre Company.
They are committed to a sustainable model. They recycle 98% of their waste water on site. They are organic. And, they have restored natural wetlands and forest on their property.
Anyone that knows me knows that I do not sell wine. I have no connection with Deerfield Ranch Winery other than my membership in their wine club. I do not receive a commission for each bottle sold. Any time I recommend a wine, it’s because I have truly fallen in love with it. Deerfield Ranch continues to dazzle me with the quality of their wines, commitment to the environment, and service to the community. Give them a try! You won’t regret it.