![]() ![]() “It wasn’t just that the wine had to be good.” “We take every aspect of a project hyper-seriously,” said Phinney, discussing the details put into the everything from the grapes to the label to the marketing. Image used with permission by copyright holder The aptly named 8 Years in the Desert marked the end of this restriction in 2016. ![]() Of course, with his long history in the wine world and relationships with various growers, he got the Zin-making itch about halfway through the non-compete. “So, the non-compete portion versus the monetary aspect … it was much more important that I was gonna get my life back.” “The success is great, but it comes at a price, which meant not spending enough time with my family,” said Phinney who was married with two young kids at the time of the sale. The catch? An eight-year-long non-compete agreement preventing him from making another delectable Zin blend. After years of hard work and well-deserved fame, Phinney, now 45, sold Orin Swift and his other wine brands and assets for a cool $300 million. With all the diversity that California wine has to offer, any wine lover will find something to get excited about here.The Prisoner was the cornerstone of Phinney’s Orin Swift Cellars, propelling the brand to stardom. The Central Coast has carved out a niche with Rhône Blends based on Grenache and Syrah, while Mendocino has found success with cool climate varieties such as Pinot noir, Riesling and Gewürztraminer. Sonoma County is best known for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Rosé and Zinfandel. In the Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc dominate vineyard acreage. Plenty of inexpensive bulk wine is made in the Central Valley area, while Napa Valley is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious and expensive “cult” wines.Įach American Viticultural Area (AVA) and sub-AVA of has its own distinct personality, allowing California to produce red wine of every fashion: from bone dry to unctuously sweet, still to sparkling, light and fresh to rich and full-bodied. California wineries range from tiny, family-owned boutiques to massive corporations, and price and production are equally varied. The state’s diverse terrain and microclimates allow for an incredible range of red wine styles, and unlike tradition-bound Europe, experimentation is more than welcome here. Responsible for the vast majority of American wine production, if California were a country, it would be the world’s fourth largest wine-producing nation. Chrissy Wittmann and her team of winemakers collaborate with this family of growers, visiting each vineyard site throughout the year to carefully assess the style and quality of every lot to make the best possible wine from each vintage. The Prisoner Wine Company acquires grapes from more than 100 vineyards throughout California’s premier grape-growing regions, partnering with phenomenal growers who are dedicated to cultivating unique varieties. Now complemented by a white blend (Blindfold), Chardonnay (The Snitch), Cabernet Sauvignon (Cuttings), Zinfandel (Saldo), Merlot (Thorn) and a Red Blend (Dérangé), The Prisoner Wine Company’s winemaking philosophy remains the same: To collaborate with a family of growers throughout California’s best winegrowing regions to craft wines of exceptional quality and unexpected character. Since launch, The Prisoner soon became recognized as one of the most innovative Napa Valley wines, leading the resurgence of California red blends and earning “cult wine” status. The Prisoner Wine Company’s eponymous first wine was inspired by the drinkable “mixed blacks” made by the Italian immigrants who originally settled in Napa Valley. ![]()
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