Cliff Lede Buys Noted Anderson Valley Vineyard

Eighteen months after acquiring prominent Anderson Valley winery Breggo Cellars, Napa winery owner Cliff Lede is adding to the stash with the purchase of Savoy Vineyard, a highly regarded source of Pinot Noir. The purchase price was not disclosed.

“It seemed like an opportunity to buy a benchmark vineyard,” said Jack Bittner, vice president of Cliff Lede Vineyards. Located in rural Mendocino County, Savoy is bottled as a single-vineyard wine by Breggo, Littorai, Radio-Coteau and Kutch, among others. Bittner said agreements with other wineries will remain unchanged and winemakers will continue to have access to the same vineyard parcels.

The 52-acre Savoy Vineyard was first planted by Rich Savoy in 1991 and is located along Hwy. 128, a mile north of Philo. The rolling terrain ranges from valley floor to about 150 feet high along terraced hillsides. Pinot makes up the bulk of the plantings, with a modest amount of Chardonnay.

Savoy in recent years has leased the vineyard to Ardzrooni Vineyard Management and Bittner said Savoy has agreed to be hands-on over the next several years.

Breggo makes about 5,000 cases of wine a year and in addition to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, it produces Syrah, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris and Riesling. Bittner said there are no plans to expand production with the addition of Savoy. The purchase will give them direct control of the fruit, however, and they hope to increase quality. “Breggo’s white wines have always been exceptional and the Pinot Noirs have always been very good,” Bittner said. “But we thought with the purchase of Savoy we could take it to an even higher level.”