Al & Boots: An American Dream

Al’s face and eyelids were covered with a fine, white dust when he began cultivating the section of his vineyard that would become Volcanic Hill. But when he tackled Red Rock Terrace, just a stone’s throw away, he noticed the soil was totally different, red and much more compact. Gravelly Meadow on the lower part of the property was laden with gravel and rocks and the spot where Lake was established was notably cool. It was a visceral lesson in terroir, one that led to the four microsites Al eventually established at Diamond Creek.

The 1981 Napa Valley Wine Auction was a turning point for Diamond Creek, when a case of its 1978 Lake Cabernet Sauvignon – the first vintage of this wine – garnered the highest bid at $5,400. It was Lot 400, one of the last to go on a long evening that was getting cold under the tent. When a bidding frenzy started between two late-staying bidders, even the auctioneer Michael Broadbent was taken aback. He couldn’t believe it when this “unknown” winery walked off with the highest bid. Of course, once Broadbent visited the property and got to know Al and Boots, they became fast friends.

When Al turned to Boots one day and announced he was going to build a lake on their property, although she thought it impossible, she said “Okay Al!” It’s but one example of the ardent faith she had in her husband and his dream. But Boots was more than a support. An elegant, accomplished event planner and winery ambassador who possessed a sophisticated palate, Boots was instrumental in building the reputation of Diamond Creek and its wines. After Al passed away in 2006, Boots ran the winery with her son, Phil Ross, until her death in 2019.