“My partner Diane and I knew each other in high school (class 1972) but never dated. We went on to separate lives after high school but fate brought us back together in 2018. We met for coffee, lunch and then for dinner in my home which included a bottle of Goldridge! Our first kiss was after toasting to our future with this incredible wine. Dehlinger has always been a part of our life celebrations ever since. And led to many wonderful and romantic evenings! ”

“In the early 1990s, my wife and I visited Dehlinger on a lark. In those days, you could get a tasting without an appointment! We had a glass of Pinot and were hooked. I laid down a bottle of 1991 Dehlinger Cabernet for my daughter’s 21st birthday. She was born in 1991. We opened it. It was still going strong and was a tremendous bottle of wine. She buys from Dehlinger now. My other daughter was married during Covid (July 2020). It was strictly a family affair. She and her husband were married at our remote cabin in the Superior National Forest of Minnesota. The 8 of us enjoyed both a Dehlinger Chardonnay and a Dehlinger Goldridge Pinot Noir that evening, along with some vintage Krug Champagne and Screaming Eagle. (It was a wedding after all!) Dehlinger has been a part of our family celebrations for 30 years now. Congratulations to the family and team. .”

“When I taught the Wine Appreciation class at SRJC (Santa Rosa Junior College), some of the Dehlinger daughters enrolled. I remember telling a story to the class that one of my favorite Syrahs of all time was the Dehlinger 1998 East Face. The next class they showed up with a bottle in hand for me—I guess Tom heard and was very generous! Still one of my favorite Syrahs of all time! Thanks Tom! .”

“Dehlinger is one of my parents’ favorite wineries - we have a whole wall section in our Wine Cellar dedicated to the great wines! Our house burned down when I was a young girl, and my family was so devastated to have lost many of their special bottles. The Dehlinger family so graciously opened up their reserve library for us to replenish the wines we lost. So, for my 30th birthday, my parents arranged a special tasting at Dehlinger to bring the magic live in person - a true full circle moment. I got the very fortune to meet Mr. Dehlinger himself on a break from the vineyards and his daughter gave us a special tour of the reserve library. Their joy and passion for the business and the family truly was inspiring and so special. I will never forget those memories with my parents - thank you for bringing the magic! ”

“Our first contact with the winery happened about 1995, when we visited Sonoma County and decided to drive the back roads randomly and stop only at wineries we had never heard of. Dehlinger was one of those, rather late in the day. Their tasting room was still open, we stopped in, and discovered the best California Chardonnay we had ever experienced. The reds on offer were pretty good, too. We have been loyal mail order customers ever since. ”

“Congratulations to Dehlinger for their 50th Anniversary. I’ve been a member since 2012 and have enjoyed the wines ever since. My memory is with Eva Dehlinger. In 2014, I read on a Dehlinger newsletter that Eva recently returned from living in Burgundy honing her skills. Since my wife and I were planning a bucket list Burgundy France wine tasting trip for Summer of 2015, I contacted Eva and asked for recommendations on wineries to visit. Even though the difference between wine tasting in California and Burgundy were complete opposites of each other, she still took time to speak with me and give me very good information. She provided a friend contact who specialized in organizing Burgundy tasting appointments. I contacted her and she organized a weeks visit of amazing wineries and lunches. The experience was a once in a lifetime opportunity. We visited wineries where we could purchase wine and wineries that were high end and getting any bottles was impossible. If it wasn’t for Eva, we would have booked the regular tourist bus wine tasting tours, and not had amazing owner/winemaker lead cellar tastings that gave us lifetime memories. Thanks Eva! ”

“As I was first introduced to wine and gaining interest in learning more, I was fortunate to start with Pinot Noir. It wasn’t until I had my first glass of Octagon, that I fully appreciated what Pinot Noir actually could “be”. Honestly, I had never experienced any quite like that first sip (sorta still chasing that dragon, too). I was absolutely head over heels and instantly in pursuit of more Dehlinger Pinot. It did and continues to set the bar for me, in all varietals offered. My subsequent visits to the winery are also very memorable. Wonderful family and it shows in the quality and consistency of the wines produced. Thank you for the great experiences and looking forward to more. ”

“Attended a blind 1995 Pinot tasting in September 28, 2018 at the Wine Watch (Wine Boutique) in Fort Lauderdale. I brought a bottle of Dehlinger as a “ringer”.

It was the wine of the evening as voted upon by the attendees. What a great testament to Dehlinger.

Here are the wines:

1995 Domaine des Comtes Lafon Meursault 1er Cru Charmes
1995 Domaine Dujac Echezeaux Grand Cru
1995 Domaine Dujac Clos de la Roche Grand Cru
1995 Mommessin Clos de Tart Grand Cru
1995 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Musigny Cuvée Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru
1995 Domaine Chezeaux Griotte Chambertin Grand Cru
1995 Dehlinger Goldridge ”

“I am forever grateful for the generosity and direction Eva has provided that showed me the path to achieve my winemaking dreams. I share Dehlinger wines with my harvest team every vintage and not only do they represent my home in the Russian River Valley, but the story of the genesis of my wine journey ... Congratulations on 50 years of pioneer farming and leadership in the world of wine. ”

“Some friends who live on the West Coast gifted us a 2001 Dehlinger Pinot Noir for our wedding in May 2018. We opened that bottle in June 2018, a few days before a trip to California, and the wine was beautiful. During our trip, we were able to stop by the winery for a tasting with the friends mentioned above and take a walk through some of the vineyards. It was such a great experience to connect that wine to where it came from and create lasting memories with our friends. .”

“On a rainy cold day in February 1986 I stopped by Dehlinger Winery. Tom Dehlinger was the only person there. Tom poured some of the 1982 Cabernet Sauvignon for me. The wine knocked my socks off and I asked if I could purchase a case. Tom said he could not sell any to me because (among other things) he had not put the label on the bottles. We kept chatting and after a while he relented. I well remember standing there helping Tom put labels on a case of the 1982 Cab, a wine I treasured and enjoyed over a number of years. ”

“I have been collecting Dehlinger since the 2003 vintage. Dehlinger was always there, from celebrations to special gifts and many many meals. I have matured as my wines have, first being blessed with an amazing wife and then an amazing daughter. Each pickup growing and also seeing the wonderful Dehlinger family grow as well. Now we look forward to the day when we can pop a bottle with our daughter. Congratulations on 50 years and Cheers! ”

“The Dehlinger family has had a significant impact on my life. Over the years they opened their doors to my family and friends, offering support in difficult times and celebrating personal successes. The Dehlinger’s lead with integrity, character, and work ethic. For Tom, Carole, Eva and Carmen, their word is their bond. There is nothing more sincere than that. I am grateful for my time working alongside them as I learned many lessons that supersede the workplace. Tom taught me the value in remaining curious. There is no question too big or small, only puzzle pieces that have not been connected. Eva showed me what it means to lead by example. She is one of a kind in her ability to creatively problem solve and see the bigger picture. Carole reminded me of the value in nurturing creativity and the importance in taking time to grow and sow beauty into your life. Carmen showed me that time is precious and should be cherished.
These attributes make producing 50 years of consistently outstanding wine possible. In 2019, I recall Tom gifting me a case of wine he made back in the 90’s. I was blown away by the quality and aroma of these nearly 30-year-old wines. Without Tom’s foresight, intellect and perseverance this milestone would not be possible. In my house no celebration goes by without a bottle of Champ de Mars at the table, or summer pool party without Rose. I am grateful for the Dehlinger’s and for Dehlinger wine. Cheers to 50 more years! ”

“The 1994 Dehlinger Reserve, I took it to the French Laundry for our 15th wedding anniversary. We were seated outside in the patio, next to a table of wine enthusiasts, they were drinking first growths! Only the best. When one of them saw my Dehlinger: “hey is that the Dehlinger Reserve” I said yes and he begged me for a taste. The rest of the meal they asked the waiter to bring us two more glasses, and every time they opened a new first growth they poured a taste for my wife and I. I suddenly realized I would always be a loyal patron of Dehlinger wines.”

“As my fiance, now wife of 32 years, and I were planning our honeymoon in ‘91, we wanted to go to wine country, SFO, and Yosemite. We knew nothing about wine, so started testing bottles from a local shop in Westport, CT. We bought a Dehlinger Chardonnay. It stood out from anything else we tested and we made a plan to stop there on our honeymoon in ‘92. We stopped. We saw a house and a barn, no cars, no people. As we sat in our car,Tom came up to us and explained there were no general public tastings. We explained our story, thanked him and were about to head on our way when he took pity on us and invited us into the barn. We sampled wines and he told us his story and patiently educated 2 wine novices for 45 minutes. Best wine experience of our trip and as we look back, one of the best ever. We finally got back to Dehlinger in 2019 and have been buying ever since. We love Dehlinger’s dedication to small, craft wines that let the fruit and land speak for itself. Fans forever. ”

“...Whether we bring a bottle out at special occasions or we drink it on an everyday basis … without saying a word, opening a bottle is one of us expressing to the other that this moment will be special because Dehlinger is part of it. Dehlinger has been an integral part of so many moments in our lives, it is woven into the fabric of us and our family story...

Sometimes, we gift a bottle of Dehlinger to friends or family and this is us expressing to them that they matter to us, it’s not just any bottle of wine, it is one from our treasured collection. You need to understand that in the cluttered world of wines, Dehlinger stands alone in our hearts...”