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| R. Merlo Estate Vineyards | Hyampom, CA 96046 |
www.rmerlo.com
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Lower South Fork Rd Hyampom, CA 96046 (530) 224-1537 Fax : 530 222-2983 Email: info@rmerlo.com
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Ray and Robin Merlo first started their professional lives in a field very different from winemaking. Ray as a medical doctor and Robin as a physician assistant, they started a family practice in Redding, California. Their first entry to winemaking was from visiting family in Northern Italy in the mid '80's. "It was a revealing trip for us. All my relatives had small plots of land where they grew grapes for their own use," says Ray. "We visited the old family vineyard, which was planted by my great-grandfather and is still to this day maintained by my cousin. It was then that we thought we might like to continue this family tradition back home." After returning home to California, the Merlos recounted their experience with an old school friend, Randall Meredith, who had made a similar trip and had similar interests and aspirations in wine. He planted the first vineyard in Hyampom in the mid '80s; at that time the Merlos were not directly involved in the ownership. "We traveled to Hyampom on weekends, helping with planting, and the harvest," says Robin. It wasn't until the late 90's that the Merlos entered into a formal partnership with Meredith Vineyards, an established, bonded winery. "We fell in love with the valley over time," says Robin, "but it wasn't until later that we realized the real potential this land had for growing grapes. The fruit coming off Randall's vineyard was just incredible." It was at that time that they purchased Hyampom Valley Ranch and set in motion a plan to develop a second vineyard. The ranch was prepped in 1999 and planted in 2000. The first bottling was in 2001 under the Meredith/Merlo label, but the Merlo's vineyard didn't come into production until 2002. Based on a desire to expand the winemaking facilities, they decided to construct a larger facility and in 2002 the first winery was built. In 2004 a second winery was built along with a new crush pad and state-of-the-art wine making equipment. The first bottling under the Merlo label was in 2004. Using the family name, Merlo - Italian for blackbird - Ray and Robin are now creating estate-grown wines that represent their winemaking heritage in a land they cherish - Hyampom Valley. Today Ray and Robin produce several varietals all from the Southern Trinity County. "Our winemaking philosophy is that we believe that great fruit produces great wine," says Ray. It appears the Hyampom area may produce some of the best wine grapes around. |
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Winemaker David Georges
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David Georges has always had a love and appreciation of the land. At the young age of twenty, Georges moved from his home in Southern California to the northern part of the state to join the California Conservation Corps. He settled in a small valley just south of Mt. Shasta and worked for an Italian land tycoon tending his organic vegetable farm. When his employer inquired about planting a five acre vineyard at the base of Castle Crags, Georges decided it was best to learn to do it right. He was accepted at U.C. Davis and mentored under Dr. Andy Walker, the world's foremost vine and rootstock expert. It was at U.C. Davis that Georges discovered that his passion for winemaking equaled his passion for vineyard management. "I discovered that one can only make a truly great wine with beautifully perfect fruit," he explains. He went on to earn a B.S. Degree in Viticulture / Enology from U.C. Davis in 1998 and was second winemaker in his class. Georges started his career as viticulturalist at Staton Hills Winery in Wapato, Washington where he honed his skills in canopy and crop management. Returning to California in 2000, Georges was named Viticulturist and later Head Winemaker at Davis Bynum Winery in Healdsburg, California. It was there that Georges put his skills and passion to work producing award-wining wines. "As a winemaker I developed my varietal style of winemaking by being meticulous in my viticultural practices and allowing the fruit to magically make itself into wine," Georges says. As the man responsible for numerous awards, gold medals and 90+ scores, David Georges quickly became a top winemaker in the competitive world of California winemaking. In 2004, Georges was offered an opportunity to return to the far reaches of Northern California, where his love of vineyards and wine began. As head winemaker of R. Merlo Estate Vineyards, Georges has embarked on one of the most exciting times in his career. "Hyampom Valley is one of the most exciting new winegrowing regions in the world today and I am thrilled to be a part of it." Georges describes it as a bit of a homecoming. "At R. Merlo Estate Vineyards, we strive to bring out the particular characteristics of our vineyards so that the flavors are carried through to the bottle. That's always been my philosophy and our wines are a testament to it." |
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Red
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2000 R. Merlo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
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Regular 10% Case Discount as of 01/24 |
Order Direct Online Phone: (530) 224-1537 Fax: (530).222-2983 Tastings by Appointment "Tasting room open by appointment only.[" |
Red
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2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Oak Knoll of Napa Valley
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Regular as of 01/24 |
Order Direct Online Phone: (530) 224-1537 Fax: (530).222-2983 Tastings by Appointment "Tasting room open by appointment only.[" |
Red
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2006 R. Merlo Estate Pinot Noir
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Regular as of 01/24 |
Order Direct Online Phone: (530) 224-1537 Fax: (530).222-2983 Tastings by Appointment "Tasting room open by appointment only.[" |
Red
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2007 R. Merlo Estate Syrah
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Regular as of 01/24 |
Order Direct Online Phone: (530) 224-1537 Fax: (530).222-2983 Tastings by Appointment "Tasting room open by appointment only.[" |
Red
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2007 R. Merlo Estate Zinfandel
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Regular as of 01/24 |
Order Direct Online Phone: (530) 224-1537 Fax: (530).222-2983 Tastings by Appointment "Tasting room open by appointment only.[" |
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