Chappellet Acquires Sonoma-Loeb Wines

NEWS RELEASE

NAPA VALLEY, California – April 28, 2011 – Chappellet Vineyard & Winery has acquired Sonoma County-based Sonoma-Loeb wines.

Sonoma-Loeb was founded by Ambassador John L. Loeb Jr., who began growing grapes in the Russian Riverbend and Alexander Valley regions of Sonoma County in 1973.

Sonoma-Loeb produces an acclaimed portfolio of wines that includes Sonoma County and Carneros Chardonnays and a Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. For more than 20 years, Sonoma-Loeb wines have been made at the Chappellet winery on Pritchard Hill by acclaimed winemaker, Phillip Corallo-Titus, who is also the longtime winemaker for Chappellet. Titus will continue making wines for both Sonoma-Loeb and Chappellet, and production for both portfolios will remain at the Chappellet winemaking facility.

Ambassador Loeb decided to sell Sonoma-Loeb in recent months. In considering potential buyers, Ambassador Loeb was committed to finding a purchaser who would continue, and build on, Sonoma-Loeb’s legacy of exceptional quality. Ambassador Loeb approached the Chappellet family, who he has known for over two decades, to discuss the possibility of a sale. Chappellet Vineyard & Winery, which has been owned and run by the Chappellet family since 1967, immediately recognized the synergies between the two companies.

“It’s almost a cliché to talk about a winery sale being a ‘natural fit,’” said Chappellet Owner and Managing Director Cyril Chappellet. “In this case it couldn’t be more true. Our relationship with Ambassador Loeb goes back as long as Sonoma-Loeb has been making its wines in our winery. This, and the fact that we have shared the same great winemaker the entire time, speaks to our common values, and our understanding of Sonoma-Loeb and its wines.

At the same time, the two wineries have very different focuses and styles. Chappellet is a Napa Valley winery with a focus on Bordeaux varietals. Sonoma-Loeb makes Burgundian varietals from Sonoma County. Because we believe in the importance of maintaining the integrity and distinctiveness of both Chappellet and Sonoma-Loeb, these differences were important to us when we were considering the purchase.”

Chappellet is committed to maintaining the highest standards of quality for Sonoma-Loeb, which produces approximately 8,000 to 9,000 cases of wine per year. Sonoma-Loeb wines will continue to be made from the same elite vineyard sources, which include such highly regarded properties as Sangiacomo Vineyard and Dutton Ranch.

John L. Loeb, Jr., former Ambassador to Denmark and delegate to the United Nations commented, “After a long and satisfying run in the wine industry, I am delighted that Chappellet has decided to buy the company, and along with our great winemaker, Phillip Corallo-Titus, carry on the Sonoma-Loeb tradition we have built together. Phillip has a history with us of making highly rated wines that have been recognized by numerous top critics. With these accomplishments, Chappellet can now build on our most recent success at Sonoma-Loeb.”

“As a family-run winery,” added Cyril Chappellet, “we feel honored that John has entrusted the future of Sonoma-Loeb to us.” The purchase of Sonoma-Loeb is the first acquisition in the 44-year history of Chappellet, and the winery is not actively seeking to acquire any additional brands or wineries.

Chappellet Vineyard & Winery

Founded in 1967, Chappellet Vineyard & Winery is recognized as one of the Napa Valley’s preeminent family-owned wineries, and one of the pioneers of high-elevation vineyard planting in California. For more than four decades Chappellet has been crafting benchmark wines with an emphasis on hillside-grown Cabernet Sauvignons from Pritchard Hill. For more information, please visit www.chappellet.com.

Sonoma-Loeb

Founded by Ambassador John Loeb Jr., Sonoma-Loeb is dedicated to producing world-class Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs using grapes from the finest cool-climate Sonoma County vineyards. Sonoma-Loeb wines are made in small lots and limited quantities by winemaker Phillip Corallo-Titus, who has guided Sonoma-Loeb’s winemaking program for over two decades. For more information, please visit www.sonomaloeb.com.

Contact: Emily Hirsch
emily@jam-pr.com
718.596.6061

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