(HEALDSBURG, Calif.) -- July, 2016
Phil Hurst, Co-Founder and President and CEO of Truett Hurst wine company, announced today that the VML tasting room and ultra-premium production facility has been sold by Bill Hambrecht. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. Truett Hurst, in exchange for $1 million in payment, quitclaimed certain rights and amended its lease so that it will vacate the tasting room portion of the property no later than December 31, 2016. The winery will be vacated no later than May 31, 2017. Truett Hurst also agreed to dismiss its pending claims against Hambrecht.
Huneeus Vintners has purchased the property and the Truett Hurst team is working with the Huneeus’ team to ensure a smooth transition. Truett Hurst owns and operates a bricks & mortar winery located in the famed Dry Creek Valley, California, which has garnered praise from the wine industry and multiple awards for the wines. The VML brand, named for winemaker and partner, Virginia Marie Lambrix, was launched at the Truett Hurst Dry Creek Estate Winery and will relocate there for the foreseeable future. Together, Hurst and Lambrix have built a reputation for their portfolio of Dry Creek and Russian River wines.
“We enjoyed our success at VML’s Westside Road property for over five years but now that Hambrecht has sold the property it is time to move on to our next chapter,” said Co-Founder Phil Hurst. “I’m very excited that the VML tasting room is returning to our Dry Creek Estate,” continued Hurst.
“For me, VML is all about my love of the Russian River Valley; the combination of fog, soils and varietals planted there,” said winemaker and Truett Hurst partner Ginny Lambrix.
Truett Hurst wine company makes the namesake Truett Hurst and VML wines sold primarily direct to consumers in their tasting room, as well as a family of premium and super-premium brands made exclusively for Albertsons, Safeway, Total Wine and More, Target, Trader Joes, The Kroger Co, and many more. In addition, they have partnered with former Wine Spectator Winemaker of the Year, Daryl Groom, and his son Colby to produce, sell and market the vibrant Coby Red cause-marketing WINE brand that has given almost $1 million to heart health charities over the past seven years. This fast growing group of wine brands has received top scores from the world’s most prestigious critics and won praise from consumers.