In 1975 the Days sold the winery to Barbara de Brye, an Australian living in London with her husband, Count Jacques de Brye. She began a planting program that, over a period of 25 years, has doubled the size of the estate vineyards. In 1991, her young son Alexander, born in 1975, inherited Hanzell Vineyards.
Winemaker/General Manager Bob Sessions carried forward with Zellerbach’s Burgundian vision from 1973 to 2001. Six years before his retirement in 2001, he hired Daniel Docher as Apprentice Vigneron. The two men worked together through seven harvests, putting their hands and minds around Hanzell’s winemaking philosophy and traditions. Trained by Bob, Daniel has been personally responsible for production beginning with the 1997 vintage. In 2001 Daniel Docher became winemaker at Hanzell Vineyards.
Bob Sessions now serves as consulting winemaker. Jean L. Arnold, President, works with owner Alexander de Brye, the de Brye Estate Trust and the winery staff to ensure that the traditions of this heritage property guide the future. José Ramos continues as Vineyard Manager, a position he has held since 1977. Ben Sessions is the Director of Marketing and Sales and Danielle Desaulniers, sommelier by training, is the Estate Educator. Current production is 3000 cases.
