Hook and Ladder Winery

IV BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 10, ISSUE 3 Today Hook and Ladder wineries include Olivet Ranch, Stegman Ranch, Severson Ranch, and Simeone Ranch. The winery also owns the 132- acre Los Amigos Ranch in Chalk Hill where an even slightly warmer climate, higher elevation, and volcano give it a more unique setting. But to understand Hook and Ladder, you have to know its history. In 1970, San Francisco firefighter Cecil De Loach, and his wife Christine, purchased the prized Barbieri Ranch in Russian River Valley’s coveted Olivet Road district, estimated at nearly 25 acres, for just over $50,000. Cecil initially continued his “day job” as a San Francisco firefighter while he learned the business, taking classes at Santa Rosa Junior College and UC Davis, and delving into the business headfirst by learning from others in the burgeoning industry. In 1973, the De Loach family became the first to plant Pinot Noir in the immediate area when it purchased a second vineyard property not far from their Barbieri Ranch. The rest is history. Hook and Ladder now own hundreds of acres but has HOOK & LADDER WINERY always maintained a culture of honoring and celebrating firefighters and first responders. “Just imagine how difficult it is to get into this industry today with how capital-intensive everything is,” says Hook and Ladder Vice President of Sales and Marketing Devin Ruddick. “The De Loaches were very smart and a little lucky to get in when they did.” The vineyard’s tie to the firefighting community has taken on added significance in recent years with the prevalence of wildfires that have decimated parts of Napa and Sonoma County’s wine country. “It will always be a part of who we are, and we are so thankful for the efforts of our firefighters everywhere,” Ruddick says. Over the years Hook and Ladder have purposely leaned into and celebrated its vast diversity of wines. Ruddick says the company has witnessed a growing trend away from specialization over the last decade, something that Hook and Ladder was a leader on. Its ranches offer everything from Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay at its Olivet Ranch to Pinot Noir and Gewurtzraminer at other locations. Because of its location and the type of soil, it has, the Chalk Hill vineyard is ideal for producing the classic red Bordeaux varieties that are hard to find. These varieties are used in Hook & Ladder’s Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, “Tillerman” Red Blend, “Third Alarm” Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, and “Four Rows” Reserve Cabernet Franc. More than anything, Hook and Ladder aim to provide wines that appeal to a diverse group of consumers. The wine industry has undergone a shift in its own demographics as consumers of all demographic and economic backgrounds have become interested in wines. Hook and Ladder want to ensure it provides something for everyone in an affordable and non-exclusionary way, Ruddick says. “We want to be perceived globally as being a leader in the diversity of products and