Who is Ricardo D?

Why do you make Pinot Noir?
Ricardo d: I love Pinot Noir. A great Pinot Noir is wine-making's greatest challenge. Pinot Noir is tempermental, shy, wild, sexy and amazing.When she gives you everything she has you are the luckiest person in the world. You want to give her everything you have back.

How did you get the name Row Eleven?
Ricardo d: Not only are all vineyards not equal, but all rows in a vineyard are not equal. Not even in the finest vineyards. Cuban tobacco growers understand this. Every year they determine which row grew the finest tobacco. They use the seeds from that row to plant the next year's crop. I am half-cuban. I am always looking for that best row. Curiously, when we were selecting rows, we happened to select row eleven in several of Santa Maria and Russian River's best vineyards. I though that would be a great name.

How do you know what the best vineyards and rows are?
Ricardo d: For thirty years I helped California's top winemakers. I learned from everyone of them how and where to find the best grapes.
 
Why would a winery sell you their best grapes?
Ricardo d: Old friendships, curiosity, money. The best Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards are owned by wineries. The best Pinot Noir vineyards are mostly owned by growers. I am certain the time will come when the wineries will begin to buy all the Pinot Noir vineyards. Some vineyards, however, will never be for sale.

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