Unshackled Red Blend

Both The Prisoner Wine Company's brand name and their namesake wine, The Prisoner, are inspired by Spanish artist Francisco de Goya's sketch "Le Petit Prisoner," part of a series of works he created in the early 1800s as a visual protest against the injustice and brutality of the Spanish War of Independence. Still relevant today, this piece of art is a timeless blend of creativity and activism, and continues to inspire the company's vision and mission. Pledging never to be complacent or restricted by tradition, and also to encourage creative expression as a means to empower the bold, The Prisoner Wine Company has stood in solidarity with the fight against racism, mass incarceration, and the systematic oppression of black communities. They are committed to education, embracing diversity, and creating an inclusive environment where all employees and business partners feel safe, respected, and valued. When their first wine, The Prisoner, was released in the late 1990s as a complex blend of some of California’s best and most unusual grape varieties, it swiftly and permanently changed the perception of what a red blend wine could be. Since then, The Prisoner Wine Company's offering have grown to include a range of rule-bending blends with provocative label designs, being recognized by fans and wine critics alike as one of the most bold and innovative wine brands in the market, leading the resurgence of California luxury red blends and earning “cult” wine status. Today, Director of Winemaking Chrissy Wittmann and her team work with more than 100 growers in Northern California, bringing together exceptional fruit to produce a family of intriguing wines unrestricted by tradition.

California wine production has a rich viticulture history since 1680 when Spanish Jesuit missionaries planted Vitis vinifera vines native to the Mediterranean region in their established missions to produce wine for religious services. In the 1770s, Spanish missionaries continued the practice under the direction of the Father Junípero Serra planted California's first vineyard at Mission San Juan Capistrano.

The state produces about ninety percent of the American wine supply and is the fourth largest wine producer among the world's independent nations. It has more than 1,200 wineries ranging from home-grown and small boutiques to large corporations with international distribution.