Dedicated to the land where its wines are grown, Deerfield Ranch Winery is committed to Biodynamic farming and is one of Sonoma County’s few certified organic wineries.
PJ and Robert Rex first purchased Deerfield Ranch, a 17-acre property, in 1982. When the adjacent 47 acres became available in 2000, the Rexes seized the opportunity and purchased the land. Besides securing the site of their future wine cave, tasting room, art gallery, and hospitality center, they acquired 14 acres of marshland known as the Kenwood Marsh—just one of just two places on earth where the endangered checkerbloom plant exists. PJ and Robert established the Kenwood Marsh Checkerbloom Society to protect the plant and help raise funds to restore and maintain the marsh. Their Adopt a Giraffe program allows everyone to participate.
The Rexes’ compassion for the environment is apparent in the flavors of Deerfield Ranch wines. As winemaker, Robert lets the nuances be his guide. He carefully handcrafts his wines, varying his technique according to what the grapes need. Robert believes that winemaking is more like cooking than chemistry—and he makes his small- lot wines like great chefs make great cuisine. As a maker of organic wines, he uses custom equipment and techniques to make exceptionally clean wines that often eliminate possible red-wine headaches and allergic reactions.
It took five years to complete Deerfield Ranch Winery’s 23,000-square-foot barrel-aging cave, but it was certainly worth the effort. The cave officially opened in September 2009, and at its very heart is the site of the winery’s tasting room. Visitors enjoy lounging in the sleek and slightly cool room while they taste the wines that have turned the heads of leading wine critics. One wine not to miss is the 2006 Old Vine Zinfandel, which recently earned a 95-point rating and the Editor’s Choice Award from Wine Enthusiast Magazine. The proof is in the tasting. Deerfield Ranch Winery is committed to creating distinctive wines that capture the essence of the land.