Born in San Francisco and raised in Sonoma County, Hook & Ladder Winery principal Michael De Loach grew up in the wine business: he started working in the vineyard at age 11 and in the cellar at 15. After college De Loach worked as Vice President, Sales and Marketing at fledgling De Loach Vineyards, and completed courses of study in winemaking at the Napa Valley School of Cellaring, as well as the University of California at Davis Agricultural Extension. He served as president of De Loach Vineyards from 2001 to 2004.

De Loach has appeared throughout the country on radio, television and speaking engagements, and has been written about in Newsweek, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Denver Business Journal, The San Diego Tribune, The Austin Chronicle, Philadelphia Magazine, The Wine Spectator, Wine and Spirits, Wines and Vines, Cheers, and The Wine Enthusiast. He is the host of "Wine Country Live," a live nationally syndicated radio show, and lives in Hummelstown, Pennsylvania.