© Alice Joyce
Our Locavore lunch began with a beautiful table setting…
DeLoach Locavore Lunch © Alice Joyce
Hospitality in the French style .. memorable!
DeLoach Vinyard’s Jean-Charles Boisset
DeLoach Insectary © Alice Joyce
The DeLoach property — on Olivet Road in Santa Rosa — boasts organic culinary gardens that reflect the quality and commitment of the vineyard to organically-grown Pinot Noir and Chardonnay cloned grapes: Farming practices that have earned DeLoach CCOF certification.
Organic viticulture is integrated with the biodynamic farming employed not only at DeLoach, but among the Maisons & Domaines of the Boisset Family of wineries, reaching from California to France, Italy to Québec. (In 2009 the DeLoach estate vineyards received biodynamic certification from Demeter.)
DeLoach – Repurposed Wood for Redesign 
Above: DeLoach Vineyards Garden Fountain ~ One comes away from a visit to DeLoach with the awareness of an overall governing philosophy of sustainability.
DeLoach Biodynamic Gardens © Alice Joyce
Working with Quantum Builders during the estate’s remodel a few years ago, there were doors, windows and tiles repurposed, while reclaimed wood from old wine vats found new life as handsome cabinets for the interior. Our tasting included a select vineyard-designated Chardonnay: Rich and flavorful, and a Hawk Hill Pinot Noir from Maboroshi vineyards – both grown in the loamy soils of the Russian River Valley.
DeLoach Chardonnay Hawk Hill Vineyard
DeLoach Wine Tasting
Hawk Hill Vineyard Soil Sample
DeLoach Wine Tasting
Another DeLoach standout: a Mendocino County biodynamically farmed Pinot Noir designate from the Masut Vineyard, a lovely clean, full-bodied wine with savory notes of cherry and spice. Below: DeLoach Vineyard Vista ~ Photo Copyright Alice Joyce
The 2006 Masut vintage received accolades for its subtle yet complex melding of cherry, currant, raspberry and chocolate flavors, with a lingering oaky vanilla finish. The appellation-designated 2007 DeLoach Russian River Valley Pinot Noir won praise as One of the Year’s Best from Wine & Spirits.
DeLoach Vineyards Gardens © Alice Joyce
DeLoach Vineyards Organic Garden
What a beautiful place to visit. Love the sheep!
Brava! To the efforts towards adding beauty and joy to the world with a consciousness that matches. Great post Alice! ;>)
Alice,i am always fascinated with biodynamic farming and their farming methods following the positions of the stars, etc. I have a friend who is also into this Quantum ‘something’, but since she is not actually doing it somehow i am not fully convinced. In this case, it looks like others are really very successful in this philosophy. The earth really needs them.
An insectory is a new concept for me, but it makes sense.