David Bruce was quoted as saying: “Through a rather remarkable series of events, I was exposed to a remarkable wine. That wine was the 1954 Richebourg, a famous Burgundy made by the Domaine de Romanée Conti. Alexis Lichine, in his book Wines of France, described the wines from this vineyard as having a [noble robe]. I had no idea what that meant but I had to find out. When I removed that 2.5-inch cork from that bottle, the whole room was pervaded by this floral, spicy aroma. At that instant I became committed. This window opened before me. I did not have a choice. I simply had to do it. My lifelong commitment was simply to make the ‘greatest Pinot Noir.’ I was put on earth to make the great Pinot Noir and to prove that Pinot Noir was here to stay in California.”
Dr. David H. Bruce was born in San Francisco on May 25, 1931 and passed away on April 28, 2021 in Los Gatos, CA. Prior to making wine, he was a dermatologist. After completing his residency in Portland, Oregon, and receiving his M.D. at Stanford University in Dermatology in 1956, he, in 1960, began a dermatology practice in Willow Glen, CA . . . but not before buying Chardonnay and Zinfandel grapes grown in the Santa Cruz Mountains and making 200 gallons of wine. In 1961, he purchased 45 acres of land high in the Santa Cruz Mountains overlooking the Pacific Ocean. He cleared the land, built a house and winery on the property, and planted 25 acres of vineyards. The David Bruce Winery was bonded in 1964. Today, the winery is planted in Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, and White Riesling.
Bruce’s generous, loving spirit will be missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by his loving wife of 37 years, Jeannette (who is president of David Bruce Winery and will continue to operate and carry on David’s vision to making great Pinot Noir and Chardonnay); sister-in-law Linda Hugger, of Los Gatos; sons (from a previous marriage); Karli of Colorado; and Barry, Dale, and Dana of Grass Valley, CA; and grandchildren.
Family and friends are invited to attend a Memorial at the winery; to be announced.
