Loxton Cellars

Loxton Cellars is the lifelong pursuit of Australian born Chris Loxton. After years in academia studying Physics in the United States, Chris found himself at UC Davis studying winemaking. After working the crush at Quivira, Sonoma-Cutrer, and St. Hallett (in Australia’s Barossa Valley) he become the co-winemaker at nearby Wellington Vineyards. Then in 1996 he founded Loxton Cellars.

Loxton Cellars owns none of its own vineyards, but sources premium fruit from great vineyards under long-term contract in which Chris can be actively involved in the farming. The focus is on Syrah and Zinfandel, but the winery also produces, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, some late harvest wines and a Syrah Port.

Chris’s winemaking goal is to have fruit driven wines of complexity and depth of character without being heavy or unbalanced. The approach is deliberately low tech and non-interventionist in the belief that the ultimate wine character is determined in the vineyard for each given year, and that manipulation of the wine tends to decrease its given uniqueness.

The tasting room is a simple affair located right in the winery amongst the barrels and winemaking equipment. Chris or one of his able staff members will walk you through their wines. In addition to their excellent Syrah and Zinfandel make sure to try their late harvest Viognier.