With their striking labels and unconventional wines, The Prisoner Wine Company has always prided itself on being different. Now they finally have a tasting room experience that matches their provocative spirit. Located on Napa Valley's Highway 29, The Prisoner Wine Company recently debuted their new Tasting Lounge and Makery. The ambitious project was a collaboration between San Francisco architect Matt Hollis and Richard Von Saal, interior designer and Napa Valley native. Drawing inspiration from The Prisoner's bold personality and the Francisco Goya painting that graces their often-photographed label, the exterior and interior spaces are a vivid tapestry of textures, colors, and shapes.The wine that started it all -- The Prisoner Red Blend 2017 ($49).
I was recently invited to visit The Prisoner Wine Company's new digs and they have truly created an immersive experience that stimulates the senses. The artwork and architectural details give your eyes plenty to feast on while you're sipping. Dramatically crowned with a vaulted ceiling, other intriguing design elements include reclaimed wood from the original Bay Bridge and a diesel tank reimagined as a custom chandelier. The outdoor courtyard has living walls of plants and a wood-burning oven used to prepare select items for the wine pairing experiences. The property also has a garden that grows herbs and produce used in dishes served at the winery.
Unlike many tasting rooms where you just sidle up to a bar and stand while tasting a flight of wines, The Prisoner pulls you completely into their world. There's no need to uncomfortably rush your wine tasting experience, The Prisoner Wine Company's bespoke chairs and sofas beckon you to sit down and stay awhile.
The Makery
The Prisoner lets the sunshine in via an 8-feet wide by 57-feet long skylight over my favorite space on the property, The Makery. Thoughtfully designed and outfitted in a way that elegantly balances impressive contemporary design with a non-intimidating comfortable vibe, The Makery celebrates craft and community by providing space for an evolving cadre of artisans, designers, and creators to display and vend their wares -- the unifying thread is that like The Prisoner Wine Company, these makers have a passion for innovation.
Go ahead and call me greedy, but I believe the open kitchen is one of the key attributes that distinguishes The Makery as the heart of the property. Watching the perfect choreography of Executive Chef Brett Young and his team as they glide in their gleaming new kitchen is a sight to behold.
Chevrè Agnolotti (Tahitian Squash, Chanterelle Mushroom, Smoked Egg Yolk) paired with The Prisoner Red Blend.
Melt-in-your mouth A5 Wagyu Beef Rib Eye cooked lightning fast over a 900 degree stone, paired with limited-release Headlock 2016 ($60), a captivating blend of Charbono from Calistoga, Petite Sirah from Lake County, and Syrah from Oak Knoll.
The food coming from the kitchen is truly exceptional. Creative, flavorful, and matched to perfection with The Prisoner's wines; Chef Young's menu features locally sourced ingredients, and some specialty items from afar, in a stellar fashion.
“We’re excited to have a home for visitors to experience The Prisoner Wine Company, whose very reason for being is to create thought-provoking and bold wines. Part of the fun for me has been blending lesser-known, hard-to-find grapes together to create new wines to be shared exclusively at the winery.” - Chrissy Wittmann, Director of Winemaking
So what about the wines? After all, that's the raison d'etre of The Prisoner Wine Company. You'd be hard-pressed to find a wine drinker that isn't familiar with their luxury red blend -- it was The Prisoner bottle with the Goya artwork and unusual blend of Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Syrah, and Charbono that put The Prisoner Wine Company on the map nearly two decades ago.
Blindfold 2016 ($32) cleverly blends Chardonnay with Roussanne, Viognier, Chenin Blanc, Muscat, and Vermentino.
As famous as THAT bottle is, on my visit I discovered that The Prisoner Wine Company's portfolio includes an impressive selection of red, white, and rosé wines, each with an interesting back story and striking look. While many are available across the country, some are exclusive to the winery. Winemaker Chrissy Wittmann said that making wine at this level "is not an easy job by any means but I didn't sign up because it was going to be easy." That refusal to take the easy path seems to be the force that fuels The Prisoner Wine Company in winemaking, architecture, design, dining, and more.
If your travels take you to Napa, a visit to The Prisoner Wine Company's sensational, shiny, and new space is certainly worth your time. Tasting experiences start at $45 per person and reservations are required. Click here for more details and to book your visit.
