In 1996, with forty years of winemaking experience, Jim and Mary Dierberg’s dream of producing wines worthy of their 250-year plan became a reality. After a long search through France and Napa, while learning the craft and making wine in the mid-west, they discovered the potential of Santa Barbara’s cool coastal valleys. The family planted two estates -first their namesake Dierberg Vineyard and later Drum Canyon Vineyard – both under their DIERBERG label. These estates, along with the family’s iconic warm climate site Star Lane Vineyard, culminated in a trio of peerless properties in Santa Barbara County.

Bankers by profession, Jim and Mary are no newcomers to wine. Since 1974, they’ve owned the Hermannhof Winery in Hermann, Missouri, which was one of the United States’ most significant wine-growing regions prior to Prohibition. Located about an hour’s drive west of St. Louis, Hermannhof is one of America’s oldest wineries. The Dierbergs have dedicated the past 40 years to renovating the property and raising its reputation as a place for education and entertainment.

While the town’s history and charm brought the Dierberg Vineyard to Hermann, the region’s Midwestern climate cannot support the traditional European varietals that Jim and Mary have become fans of over the years. In the 1980s, the Dierbergs began looking outside of Missouri for a place to plant that passion. After realizing that properties in Bordeaux and Napa Valley weren’t suitable for their desires, they chanced upon the Santa Barbara area in 1996.

Today, the entire operation is one big family affair, with the Dierbergs’ grown children and their spouses intimately involved in the day-to-day operations of the vineyard and winery.

Location

DIERBERG explores Pinot Noir and Chardonnay within Santa Barbara County’s Santa Rita Hills and Santa Maria Valley AVAs. The vineyards are located just 20 miles apart. The cool coastal influence of both vineyards represents ideal conditions for growing Californian expressions of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

DIERBERG VINEYARD'S STORY

Thirteen miles from the Pacific Ocean in one of the cooler winegrowing corners of Santa Barbara County, Dierberg Vineyard is on the western edge of the Santa Maria Valley appellation and is comprised of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Perched on a mesa above the south bank of the Santa Maria River, the property consists of sandy loam soils, heavily infiltrated by the marine sediments of yesteryear and kissed by the fog from the Pacific.

Founded in 1997, the family planted twelve “heritage clones” of Pinot Noir (tracing back to Burgundy). This diversity of material is rare in California and allows the selection and discovery of the ideal clones to build the backbone of DIERBERG Pinot Noir. Chardonnay selections were derived from marquis cuttings of historic Wente clones — and the closely related Clone 4 grape. These California-developed clones are high quality and low yielding, producing expressive but graceful Chardonnays by retaining fresh structure with delicious ripe fruit.

DIERBERG VINEYARD'S WINE

2017 Star Lane Rosé, Star Lane Vineyard

WINEMAKER NOTES Producing Rosé of Malbec is a joy. Whole cluster pressed without crushing and limited skin contact time keeps Malbec’s penchant for ample colour in check leading to a salmon coloured, pastel Rosé. This wine is sourced from a particular vigorous section of Dierberg Vineyard's Malbec which promotes higher acidity and is perfect for Rosé. The wine was produced simply, in stainless steel fermenters, and did undergo secondary fermentation to balance the higher acid at harvest.

ALCOHOL 11.7

BARREL AGED Nope.

OAK Nope.

HARVESTED Aug/Sept 2015

BOTTLED April 2016

CELLAR LIFE Why wait, its Rosé

2017 Star Lane Sauvignon Blanc, Star Lane Vineyard

WINEMAKER NOTES With a terrific vintage to work with, and the site producing steady and even Sauvignon blanc over the last several years, we must admit that 2017 allowed us to follow a steady course. A typical mix of fermenting in a large oak cask to bring some weight to the fresh texture and stainless steel ferments to keep aromatics pure and exuberant was utilized. The first fruit from a new planting showed tremendous promise and was included in this blend adding a touch of depth and nuance.

ALCOHOL 13.4%

BARREL AGED 35% for 6 months

Neutral French Oak

Stainless Steel 65%

HARVESTED August 2017

BOTTLED March 2018

CELLAR LIFE 3-7 years

2015 Dierberg Chardonnay, Dierberg Vineyard, SMV

WINEMAKER NOTES The 2015 Chardonnay showed flavour development early in ripening permitting harvest dates with plentiful amounts of natural acidity. In fact, the freshness of both flavour and texture warranted an increase in both new oak and malolactic fermentation. In several previous vintages much of the Chardonnay was prevented from undergoing sa econdary fermentation, but in 2015 we leveraged this tool to bring our acidity into balance on nearly 70% of the wine. Additionally the sweetness from just a touch more new oak further balanced the firm backbone the acidity supplied. Applying these practices helped maintain the site expression and consistency we’ve come to appreciate from the Dierberg Vineyard.

ALCOHOL 13.2%

BARREL AGED 14 months

OAK 20% new, 400L French

HARVESTED September 2015

BOTTLED December 2016

CELLAR LIFE 10+ years

2015 Dierberg Pinot Noir, Drum Canyon Vineyard, SRH

WINEMAKER NOTES The 2015 theme for our cool coastal vineyards was low yield, intense structure, and a veiled nature that wants time to reveal itself. As initial blocks of Pinot Noir were harvested it was quickly apparent that the vintage's intensity required less stem inclusion and maceration time needed to be shortened. We enjoy good tannin structure and tension in our Pinot Noir, but all Pinot should have an elegant balance if tense in its general profile. With depth and tanning coming quickly, we reduced time on skins to accommodate this intensity. One might think more new oak would work, but we felt the depth of the wines provided such complexity that we didn't want to confound it with anything but our typical program.

ALCOHOL 13.9%

BARREL AGED 16 months

OAK 25% new, French

HARVESTED August 2015

BOTTLED December 2016

CELLAR LIFE 8-16 years