The Prisoner Wine Company

The Prisoner Wine Company is named after the flagship wine that founding winemaker Dave Phinney originally produced with his inaugural release from 2000, a mere 385 cases. Dave ultimately sold The Prisoner to Huneeus Vintners (owners of Rutherford based Quintessa Winery) in 2010 at which point the brand was producing around 85,000 cases of wine each year. Huneeus Vintners grew the brand to some 170,000 cases before selling it in 2016 to the current owner, Constellation Brands, the parent company of Robert Mondavi Winery along with 50% ownership of Opus One.

In a remarkable feel-good story of what comes around goes around, Dave Phinney began his wine career at Robert Mondavi Winery as a temporary harvest intern in 1997 working several hours every day during the graveyard shift in the winery doing punch-downs and pump overs. With Mondavi’s encouragement, in 1997 Dave made a barrel of wine from second crop grapes and the next year produced his first vintage of a label he ultimately became well known for, Orin Swift. He wasn’t satisfied with the quality of the wine, so Dave sold that vintage on the bulk market (Orin Swift is now owned by GALLO). Little did either Mondavi or Phinney know that eventually both would again be linked based on Phinney’s remarkable success with The Prisoner wines.

Vineyards critical to the Prisoner’s early success include Morisoli Vineyard in Rutherford and Tofanelli Vineyard in Calistoga. Some of the earliest vintages were produced at Bin to Bottle, one of Napa Valley’s longest running larger customer crash facilities. Prior to its current home, The Prisoner wine had also been produced at Sonoma Valley Custom Wine and what was Starmont Winery and Vineyards (now the home of Migration Winery).

A gifted blender of both varieties and regions, Dave built his reputation on creating fruit forward (often higher alcohol), approachable blended wines. His winemaking has never been constrained by specific varieties or geographical places. To complement his creativity with winemaking – his wines incorporate extremely creative, unique and often eye-catching labels. And he is a master marketer – helped by the fact his wines are reasonably priced based on quality.

Looking for a home for The Prisoner Wine Co after recognizing a need to showcase the portfolio, Constellation Brands closed Franciscan Winery in October 2018 and spent the next year completely renovating and remodeling both the exterior and interior space. The hospitality center opened to the public in early November 2018 on site of the former Franciscan Winery in Rutherford.

This property has a long history; Franciscan Winery was constructed in 1971 and in 1975 Ray Duncan and Justin Meyer (co-founders of Silver Oak Winery) purchased what was then bankrupt Franciscan Winery and made both Silver Oak and the Franciscan wines here for a number of years. In 1975 they also produced what was the first ever commercial wine from the variety Carnelian (a variety that UC Davis Professor Dr. Harold Olmo created by crossing Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignane and Grenache). By 1979 the Franciscan property was sold to the Peter Eckes Company (a West German based producer of fruit juices and bandy); the Silver Oak wines continued to be produced at Franciscan for several more years.

In 1985 Augustin Huneeus (founder of Quintessa Winery in Rutherford) became a partner and acting president of Franciscan Estates. He sold his interest in Franciscan in 1999 at which point Franciscan Estate was acquired by Canandaigua Wine Co – later changing their name to Constellation Brands.

Those who visited Franciscan who now come to The Prisoner Wine Co will no longer recognize the interior of the hospitality center. The fountain in the front is gone and the dated tasting room has been completely modernized. A small demonstration vineyard was located next to the main parking lot but has since been replaced with a larger commercially producing vineyards. A highlight then was a visit to the prominent wooden ‘Rutherford’ bench from the Franciscan days containing name plaques of those who worked at least 20 years at Franciscan. This bench has since been removed.

The Prisoner Wine Co sources from numerous vineyard sites both in the Napa Valley and from neighboring counties. They often work with small family-owned vineyards – at last count, they purchase fruit from some 130 vineyards within Napa Valley and approximately 50 vineyard sites outside of the valley. Brands in addition to the Prisoner wines which are part of The Prisoner Wine Co are the following: SALDO, Unshackled, Blindfold and Domaine Curry (founded by Ayesha Curry, chef, author and wife of star basketball player Stephen Curry).

Guests are greeted by hosts at the main entrance and then accompanied to seats either within the lounge or in an exterior courtyard which is kindly referred to as ‘the yard’ in keeping with the prison theme.

The Makery
This artisan space is open at select times throughout the week including as a stop on the daily afternoon tours as well as on the weekends for club members. More active on the weekends, this is typically when the artists represented here are on site to present and discuss their various works. The makers are scheduled to rotate quarterly.

A diversity of creations are always on display in each of the tiny rooms within The Makery, rotating depending on the artist represented. During recent visits we saw soap, flour, ceramics, jewelry, jellies, salts and one of the more creative pieces one will ever see – a full-sized skeleton made entirely from solid graphite called the Ash Dancer from artist Angelio Batle of Batle Studio based in San Francisco. And this skeleton is used to create additional art – unique sketches if you will. The skeleton lies on a horizontal table which when vibrates causes the skeleton to bounce up and down in effect ‘drawing’ with graphite on the paper below it.

And additional experiences in The Makery involve food and wine pairings. The property features two commercial kitchens, including the open-view kitchen in The Makery and raised gardens with a variety of vegetables used by their culinary team.

Since 2015 and prior to opening The Prisoner Wine Co in the Napa Valley, The Makery Experience was held in select cities domestically including Brooklyn, Denver and Los Angeles. These one-night events featured local craftspeople and their stories – combined with music, food and wines from The Prisoner Wine Co.

SALDO
SALDO is the creation of The Prisoner Director of Winemaking Chrissy Wittmann. This label includes a diversity of wines in its portfolio from not only California but other wine regions around the planet. Bottlings include Zinfandel, a Red Blend, Chenin Blanc, an Australian Shiraz, a skin-contact Falanghina, and a Carignan. Saldo in Italian means, “I join”.

Historically the label has been one of the simplest wine labels we have ever seen, simply a narrow strip looking cutout with the world SALDO printed on it with the label color varying depending on the variety. But more recently the SALDO bottlings have a small label towards the bottom of the bottle indicating the variety and or region.

For the first time in late September 2023, SALDO opened a tasting salon for guests to enjoy the wines inside a tasting annex within The Prisoner Wine Company. The entrance to SALDO is on the right side and next to the main entrance to The Prisoner. The interior space can be closed off as needed into three seperate tasting spaces. And a semi-outdoor lounge area is also used for tastings, weather permitting. This space is where you want to taste, to see and be seen by visitors walking right past you on their way in to the main The Prisoner entrance.

Seasonal bites prepared by the on site chef are paired with each of the wines. The Saldo wine + chocolate experience pairs select bottlings with chocolates produced by a local chocolatier. The interior was designed by St. Helena based Erin Martin and her team.

Reservations are available on Tock, but walk-ins will be accommodated if space permits.

Saldo wines:
The 2021 SALDO Chenin Blanc California is a blend of 90% Chenin Blanc, 7% Muscat and 3% Verdelho. This wine is saw no oak during its fermentation and aging. It spent 3 weeks fermenting in stainless steel tanks. It is medium gold in color; the bouquet immediately reminded us of bruised apples and for some reason our several visits to Kiviks Apple Cider Farm in Sweden. The bouquet also offers notes of pear, apple cider and a lighter herbal note. The palate is bright and somewhat mirrors the bouquet with flavors of apple, white nectarine, lychee, pineapple guava and ripe pomelo. The finish is richly fruited and mouthwatering from its lively acidity. This wine’s texture is gentle.

The 2021 SALDO Red Blend is composed of Petite Sirah, Grenache, and Syrah. This wine is deep ruby in color with an amaranthine rim. Its aromatics are focused on fruit rather than too much barrel influence. It offers scents of berries including raspberry and blueberry and a note of red licorice. The palate is primarily red-fruited with flavors of sour cherry, raspberry and currant. The tannins are grippy, dusty and almost silty, with a heavy chalkiness in their textural feel. The tannins are long lasting with a persistent drying character and a savory note of dark pepper. This wine is 15.5% alcohol but one doesn’t notice it due to its lively acidity.

The 2021 SALDO Zinfandel is deep ruby in color; the bouquet offers a union of both raspberry and blooming rose petals. The palate reveals flavors of raspberry jam, blueberries, red plum and red vine licorice. The palate is bursting with energy from its dancing and bright acidity. This wine lingers with dried herbs, a red fruited tartness and a light dust character. The tannins are fine-grained and supple across the palate. Pick up a bottle at the Prisoner, make the short drive up to Tra Vigne Pizza in St. Helena and enjoy with our favorite pizza on their menu, the Ducati.

The 2021 SALDO Shiraz is a blend of 95% Australian Shiraz and 5% Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. The Shiraz was sourced entirely from South Australia including from vineyards in the Barossa Valley (one of Australia’s most well-known regions for this variety), Clare Valley, and the Limestone Coast. This wine is deep ruby and opaque in the glass; the bouquet sports aromas of fresh rose petals, violets, a garrigue/chaparral quality, bramble and raspberry. There is a also a subtle layer of crushed peppercorn which in no way makes the bouquet, peppery, but is an inherent character of Shiraz. And as the wine further evolves in the glass it reveals a note of mocha. The palate is bright with red fruited flavors including plum, cherry, currant and Icelandic crowberries (look that one up, we had never heard of this fruit before we tried them). The tannins are pixelated, grainy, grippy and long lasting, anchoring a savory finish including notes of pepper corn and a light dust character.

The Prisoner Wines
Long known for its creative packaging, each bottle seems to outdo the next when it comes to visual appeal. Take for instance the Syndrome Rosé – part of the label is a zip tie, yes, you read that correctly. Employees zip tie each of the bottles before presenting it to guests. And every zip tie is printed with the word Syndrome. The 2017 The Prisoner Wine Co Napa Valley Syndrome is an unusual blend of Syrah, Grenache and a splash of Pinot Noir. This wine is only served at the tasting room. Pink in the glass it shows notes of strawberry, rhubarb and a minerality nuance on the bouquet. It is very well balanced on the palate with bright acidity; this wine drinks quite easily by itself. It offers flavors of not overly ripe strawberry and watermelon – this is a flavor similar to the part of a watermelon containing the flesh between the rind and the riper inner core. This wine is vibrant and lively across the palate.

The 2016 The Prisoner Wine Co Blindfold is a unique white varietal blend of Chenin Blanc, Roussane and Viognier. Darker yellow in the glass it reveals aromas of citrus blossom, ripe pear and melon. There is a noticeable sweet aromatic core throughout the bouquet including notes of honeysuckle. It is full flavored but not heavy, however it does show some phenolic grip across the palate. There is a hint of orange or mandarin flavor, especially towards the finish.

Every metallic label features a different number for the No 39007 Chenin Blanc (blended slightly with Viognier). A wine with a theme referring to a prisoner, the cork is labeled with, “He is anonymous – and still, with-out him, the whole of it would crumble”. Pale yellow in the glass the 2016 The Prisoner Wine Co No 39007 Chenin Blanc shows notes of dried straw and stone fruit including nectarine and melon on the bouquet. What is immediately noticeable on the palate is the wine’s texture and grip; it is oily, almost briny in feel and certainly carries plenty of weight across the palate. An union of both pineapple and citrus flavors linger on the finish. This is a memorable wine because of its structure.

The label on their flagship wine is an etching of a prisoner drawn by the famous artist Goya; Phinney was introduced to this piece from a print his parents had given him as a present. The grapes for this wine are sourced from high quality vineyards throughout Napa Valley. When Dave Phinney owned this label, it was typically a five varietal blend including Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Charbono and Petite Syrah. One of the first vineyard sites sourced from in the early years of The Prisoner, was Morisoli Vineyard in Rutherford. Other sites still provide grapes for this wine including Solari Family Vineyard in Calistoga and Korte Ranch in St. Helena.

The 2022 The Prisoner California Red Wine is deep ruby in color; the bouquet is a bowlful of ripe fruits including blackberry, dark cherry, boysenberry preserves, dark raspberry and mulberry along with additional scents of melted milk chocolate, vanilla, toasted cedar, and a hint of sweet tobacco and an Asian five-star spice. And there is an aromatic note we have never described before in wine, reminding us of a particular type of brown molding clay, we used a long time ago when we were involved in building model designs for a solar car. That brings back great memories. The palate mirrors the bouquet, especially in terms of ripe fruits. These flavors include dark cherry, blackberry and boysenberry accompanied by a perceived sweetness. The tannins are lightly gravelly and integrated well into the finish. Lingers with a note of dried tobacco leaf and a warmth of alcohol which persists deep on the palate. A crowd favorite for sure, for those who like ripe fruit-forward aromas and flavors. This vintage is a blend of the following varieties: Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Sirah, Syrah, Merlot and Malbec. It was aged in a combination of French and American oak barrels of which 30% were new.

The Prisoner Wine Co 2016 The Prisoner is a blend of Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Syrah and Charbono. Shows more dark fruit on the bouquet than red fruit although there is a note of raspberry throughout the aromas. Also hints of bittersweet chocolate. Unlike the bouquet, the palate is fairly fruit forward. Supple and very rounded in texture, this wine features layers of flavor without the heavy influence of tannin. There are also notes of cherry and a noticeable darker spice linger on the finish.

After one is exposed to the variety of creative labeling from The Prisoner Wine Co wines, one may start looking at the world a bit differently and wondering what the limits are for wine labeling creativity. Everything becomes a potential label, toilet paper, wire, random images of animal heads, household utensils – oh the list goes on.

The Prisoner also produces the Correction Series, a Napa Valley Red Blend. The image of the artwork on their 2021 bottling was made in prison by artist Jesse Krimes. A percentage of money from the sales of the Correction bottles are donated to The Center for Art & Advocacy, a nonprofit founded by Krimes.

Visits for sit down tastings are available by walk-in. Other experiences require an appointment. For more information, to schedule an appointment or to join The Fringe, their membership program, visit: www.theprisonerwinecompany.com.

The Entrance

The Lounge

The Yard

The Makery

The Garden/Kitchen

The Rutherford Bench
This was dedicated in 1989; at its unveiling the following individuals were in attendance: Silver Oak’s Justin Meyer, Sterling Vineyard’s Tom Ferrel, Franciscan Vineyard’s Augustin Huneeus, Girard Winery’s Steve Girard, Raymond Vineyard’s Walt Raymond and Caymus Vineyard’s Chuck Wagner.

It has since been removed (sometime around 2022) and has been replaced by a small vineyard located to the south of the main parking lot.