9/16/2023 0 Comments Prisoner wine review![]() ![]() The fountain in the front is gone and the dated tasting room has been completely modernized. Those who visited Franciscan who now come to The Prisoner Wine Co will no longer recognize the interior of the hospitality center. 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. In 1985 Augustin Huneeus (founder of Quintessa Winery in Rutherford) became a partner and acting president of Franciscan Estates. By 1979 Silver Oak sold the Franciscan property to the Peter Eckes Company (a German based producer of fruit juices and bandy) but continued to make the Silver Oak wines at Franciscan for several more years. Harold Olmo created by crossing Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignane and Grenache). In 1975 they also produced what was the first ever commercial wine from the variety Carnelian (a variety that UC Davis Professor Dr. 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. The hospitality center opened to the public in early November 2018 on site of the former Franciscan Winery in Rutherford. ![]() 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. And he is a master marketer – helped by the fact his wines are reasonably priced based on quality. To complement his creativity with winemaking – his wines incorporate extremely creative, unique and often eye-catching labels. His winemaking has never been constrained by specific varieties or geographical places. Little did either Mondavi or Phinney know that eventually both would again be linked based on Phinney’s remarkable success with The Prisoner wines.Ī gifted blender of both varieties and regions, Dave built his reputation on creating fruit forward (often higher alcohol), approachable blended wines. 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 E & J Gallo Winery). 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. 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. Huneeus Vintners grew the brand to some 170,000 cases before selling it in 2016 to the current owner, Constellation Brands (parent company of Robert Mondavi Winery along with 50% ownership of Opus One). ![]() 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. ![]() 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. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |