Pinot Noir pioneer applies for insolvency

In 1970, Richard Sanford, former Navy officer and Vietnam veteran, planted the first Pinot Noir vines in the vineyards of the Santa Rita Hills. He soon understood the climate and soil conditions were outright magic for this sort of grape. Then, 11 years later, he founded the Sanford Winery together with Thekla, his wife. As early as in 2005, however, after an argue with the new owners of the wine estate, he quit it, and something later, he founded the Alma Rosa Winery and Vineyards. Here, he focused on Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc.

In February, Richard Sanford became the first vintner from the Central Coast region to be accepted in the California Wine Hall of Fame. Besides his pioneer work for the Pinot Noir, he became also famous by the Sideways movie hit, where Miles, a divorced teacher and wine lover, together with Jack, his unlucky actor friend, stopped for the first time on their wine trip through California’s wine growing areas.

According to local media, there is not much that can be read out of the files, apart from the information that assets and liabilities are more or less balanced and amount for 10 million US dollar (about 8.1 million euro), and that the company had named several creditors. There, Mr. Sanford is being quoted that, from his point of view, the financial problems are related to the economic downswing. So far, the Alma Rosa Winery has not stated any more comment. (red.yoopress)