Born and raised in Napa Valley, Derek Flegal studied biology before moving to Spain and living abroad for much of his 20’s. After moving to Mendoza, Argentina, his passion for wine became apparent and he returned to the US to study Enology at Fresno State. Upon completion in 2014, he took a cellar worker position at Outpost wines, where he developed a working relationship with Thomas Rivers Brown. In the following years, he worked alongside renowned winemakers Michel Rolland, Aaron Pott, and Heidi Barrett, and began crafting wines for himself under the Blaine label.

Originally planted in 2003, Lewis Platt took the time to meet with the winemakers who would purchase the grapes in the early years: David Ramey (Ramey), Fred Scherrer (Scherrer), Eric Sussman (Radio Coteau), Ted Lemon (Littorai), and Carroll Kemp (Red Car). In a few years, Platt Vineyard grapes became one of the most sought-after and expensive Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grown in California.

In 2022, French winemaking group AXA Millésimes bought the vineyard with the ambition to build a winery on site and to make estate wines from Platt that express the unique quality of this terroir. [Ep 392]

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