Redefining taste
When our first wine, The Prisoner, was released two decades ago 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, we’ve 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, our Director of Winemaking Todd Ricard and his team work with over 100 growers in northern California, bringing together exceptional fruit to produce a family of intriguing wines unrestricted by tradition. The Prisoner Wine Company is located on the legendary Highway29 in Napa Valley and welcomes visitors year-round for unexpected, immersive experiences.
The Label
Our name, The Prisoner, embodies the tension between confinement and freedom. It’s a tension that drives everything we do, pushing us to question assumptions and redefine what freedom truly means — in winemaking and beyond. Our bold label, featuring Francisco de Goya's etching titled "Le Petit Prisonnier" is a deliberate expression of this point of view: creativity used to invite conversation and challenge the expected.
Drawn from Goya’s Disasters of War series, the artwork reflects our belief that expression can — and should — stand for
something. That same intent lives on in Corrections, our limited-edition series where wine labels become platforms for advocacy.
Challenging the status quo in pursuit of progress is etched into our DNA. We don’t chase novelty. We use creativity with intent — to open minds, expand perspectives and shape new expressions of wine.
The Prisoner & Corrections
In 2022, we introduced Corrections, an annual limited-edition release that merges art and wine to reshape cultural narratives surrounding those impacted by our justice system. Each label is created in partnership with an artist who has personally experienced incarceration, transforming every bottle into a powerful act of storytelling.
Our Team
Todd RICARD
DIRECTOR OF WINEMAKING
Todd Ricard graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Wine & Viticulture from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. He learned the ins and outs of the winemaking process hands-on as a cellar worker during his internship at Le Cuvier Winery in Paso Robles. After the internship, Todd accepted an assistant winemaker role at the winery and began to see the shape of his future in the business. "I realized how much care and work goes into crafting wines that truly represent a sense of place. That really struck a chord with me,” comments Todd.
Armed with a solid foundation in the industry, Todd joined the Wild Horse Winery team as a cellar worker and laboratory technician in 2010. Three years of hard work and dedication later, he was promoted to assistant winemaker, and then promoted again to senior winemaker in 2016. After briefly serving as winery manager at Castoro Cellars, Todd joined The Prisoner Wine Company and is now the Director of Winemaking. His prior experience creating a diversity of wines at Wild Horse Winery and Castoro Cellars prepared him well for The Prisoner Wine Company’s multi-varietal blends.
Brett YOUNG
DIRECTOR OF CULINARY
Brett Young grew up in Lodi, home to many of California’s oldest Zinfandel vineyards. With a clear passion for the kitchen, he enrolled at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. Over the past 25 years, Brett has honed his culinary skills and expertise in notable kitchens such as The Ritz-Carlton Millennia in Singapore, Mix by Alain Ducasse in Las Vegas and Bardessono Hotel in Yountville. Brett has also spent time at renowned wineries including Robert Mondavi Winery, Franciscan Estate and The Prisoner Wine Company. These experiences have profoundly shaped his thinking about all things food, wine, and exceptional hospitality.
Calistoga
Solari Family Vineyard
Bruno Solari and his four siblings, Giulia, Diana, Tony and Kelley are 3rd generation farmers in Calistoga. The Solari’s farm with old school sensibilities and new school techniques. We have been fortunate enough to purchase Zinfandel for The Prisoner from this vineyard since 2005. It produces small yet immensely flavored berries.
Yountville
Tiedemann Ranch
Planted and farmed in the 1970’s by Larry Bettinelli and his father-in-law, Irv Tiedemann. Keeping the family tradition alive, he now farms the land with his son, Giancarlo Bettinelli and his son-in-law Paul Goldberg. Working with this family business has been a truly special experience. The vineyard is a perfect showcase of both head trained and wire-trained Zinfandel, and has been in our family of growers since 2004.
Dry Creek
Grist Vineyard
Situated at 1,000 ft above the Dry Creek valley floor, this head trained Zinfandel vineyard sits on iron rich, red volcanic soils. The vineyard is on the western ridge of the Dry Creek appellation, and benefits from the cool afternoon breezes which roll in from the Pacific Ocean, tempering the warmth of a typical Dry Creek Valley summer day.
Yountville
Rodgers Vineyard
We source Viognier from the Rodgers vineyard located in Yountville which adds intensity and a floral component to the wine.