| We believe wine is an essential part of gracious living and Landmark enhances the experience of every meal and social gathering. The success of Landmark Vineyards began in the heartland of America in 1838. It began when John Deere invented the steel plow and unearthed America’s agricultural abundance. That commitment to innovative means of production and respect for the land, and what the land had to offer, moved like a DNA chromosome from one generation to another until it found another challenge in the soil of California, Sonoma County, wine country: Landmark Vineyards. Landmark Vineyards was originally founded in Windsor, Sonoma County in 1974. It was a small family winery that was slowly being smothered by urban sprawl. But the facility was saved in 1989, when Damaris Deere Ethridge. the great, great, granddaughter of John Deere, visited wine country with a vision. Like her ancestor, she wanted to reunite herself and her family with the soil. Damaris believed Landmark could be a small jewel of a winery, producing limited amounts of the world’s finest Chardonnay. She purchased Landmark and relocated the facility from Windsor to Kenwood. She built a winery combining a traditional Spanish mission style exterior with a bright contemporary interior equipped with the state-of-the-art winemaking equipment. It was a blend of old and new, of what the land knew and the promise it offered. Having a clear vision for the future, her next step was to fill it with people who would execute her plans. She started by convincing her son, Michael Deere Colhoun and his wife Mary, to move from the east coast and join her as partners in the winery. Once settled, the Colhouns set in motion a plan that would truly make the winery a landmark. In 1993, they hired the world-renowned consulting enologist Helen Turly to work with Eric Stern, Landmark’s winemaker. Eric has the distinction of being the only winemaker in the world to have attended the Julliard School of Music; however, he had a calling to switch muses -from Orpheus to Bacchus. Like a skilled musician, Eric took the notes he had been given and created a great fugue, bringing together grapes from selected diverse vineyards, innovative and traditional techniques, and French oak to produce an opulent and elegant wine that made the name Landmark synonymous with ”super premium” Chardonnay. This winery remains one of the best kept secrets for outstanding Chardonnays as well as increasingly sumptuous Pinot Noirs. Rober M. Parker, Jr, The Wine Advocate, Issue 132 As the Chardonnay has gained reputation and prominence in the marketplace, Pinot Noir became an additional focus and passion for the Landmark team. With the strong belief that vineyards and terroir make great wine, Landmark’s limited Pinot Noir is making a mark in the world of wine. Our story is about soil, innovation and dedication: a legacy that has been passed down through Deere generations for 162 years. We seek to make the best wine possible because we live in the best possible place on Earth. We want to share our bounty with the rest of the world; after all. . . that is the point of being a Landmark. |
