Ruth Lewandowski
The story of Ruth Lewandowski Wines is one of idealism and a return to the land, born from the vision of Evan Lewandowski, who chose to blend the European agricultural spirit with Californian vitality. The philosophy in the vineyard and in the cellar reflects Evan's personal philosophy, encapsulated in the name 'Ruth', meaning the cycle of things, whereby what is alive today owes its existence to the life and death of those who came before. This is the winery's goal: to express the nature of things, physically and spiritually, through wine.
The Ruth Lewandowski project is taking shape between Hopland and Ukiah, on the hills of the Talmage Bench in Mendocino. Work began with the restoration of the old Fox Hill vineyard, converted from a traditional plantation into a mosaic of Italian and Mediterranean grape varieties. This first estate has been joined by other plots that enrich the productive landscape: Lost Hills Ranch, Gibson Ranch and Cole Ranch, where Evan continues his experiments with grape varieties from around the world. The production method is entirely artisanal, based on spontaneous processes and minimal human intervention. Fermentation takes place spontaneously with indigenous yeasts and, depending on the condition of the grapes and the desired result, the winery uses targeted maturation for each plot, whether in steel or cement vats or in neutral barrels.
Ruth Lewandowski's wines seek ease of drinking, tension and freshness, searching for an American voice to express grape varieties from around the world. Some Mediterranean varieties benefit from prolonged maceration on the skins to enhance their structure and aromas, while more delicate grapes are vinified using carbonic maceration or co-fermentation, techniques that lend energy and lightness to the wines. No clarification or invasive filtration is practised, and the use of sulphur is kept to a strict minimum. Everything is geared towards maintaining expressive transparency, balancing the vitality of the fruit with the strength of the terroir. Each wine bearing Ruth Lewandowski's signature is the result of an agricultural philosophy that aims to restore the poetry of the land.
The story of Ruth Lewandowski Wines is one of idealism and a return to the land, born from the vision of Evan Lewandowski, who chose to blend the European agricultural spirit with Californian vitality. The philosophy in the vineyard and in the cellar reflects Evan's personal philosophy, encapsulated in the name 'Ruth', meaning the cycle of things, whereby what is alive today owes its existence to the life and death of those who came before. This is the winery's goal: to express the nature of things, physically and spiritually, through wine.
The Ruth Lewandowski project is taking shape between Hopland and Ukiah, on the hills of the Talmage Bench in Mendocino. Work began with the restoration of the old Fox Hill vineyard, converted from a traditional plantation into a mosaic of Italian and Mediterranean grape varieties. This first estate has been joined by other plots that enrich the productive landscape: Lost Hills Ranch, Gibson Ranch and Cole Ranch, where Evan continues his experiments with grape varieties from around the world. The production method is entirely artisanal, based on spontaneous processes and minimal human intervention. Fermentation takes place spontaneously with indigenous yeasts and, depending on the condition of the grapes and the desired result, the winery uses targeted maturation for each plot, whether in steel or cement vats or in neutral barrels.
Ruth Lewandowski's wines seek ease of drinking, tension and freshness, searching for an American voice to express grape varieties from around the world. Some Mediterranean varieties benefit from prolonged maceration on the skins to enhance their structure and aromas, while more delicate grapes are vinified using carbonic maceration or co-fermentation, techniques that lend energy and lightness to the wines. No clarification or invasive filtration is practised, and the use of sulphur is kept to a strict minimum. Everything is geared towards maintaining expressive transparency, balancing the vitality of the fruit with the strength of the terroir. Each wine bearing Ruth Lewandowski's signature is the result of an agricultural philosophy that aims to restore the poetry of the land.
