According to Devin Ruddick. In 1970, San Francisco firefighter Cecil De Loach, and his wife Christine purchased the prized Barbieri Ranch in Russian River Valley’s coveted Olivet Road district. Both came armed with advanced degrees in anthropology but no background in farming or grape growing. That said, they had long dreamt of finding land their family could own and work together. Then for his part, Louis Barbieri was gratified to pass the vineyard on to a family committed.
