This advertising content was produced in collaboration with our partner, The Prisoner Wine Company.
The Prisoner is not restrained by winemaking traditions. The Napa Valley brand has become known for its standards-flouting Red Blend and commitment to prison reform.
Taking inspiration from the wines made by Italian immigrants who settled in Napa, The Prisoner has established itself as a leader in the growth of boundary-stretching blends by incorporating Zinfandel with the unlikely mix of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Syrah, and Charbono. The resulting flagship Red Blend quickly achieved cult status. Defined by a rich mouthfeel that grounds the soft tannins, it delivers aromas of bing cherry, dark chocolate, clove, and roasted fig that give way to notes of raspberry, boysenberry, pomegranate, and vanilla. The lingering finish is smooth and luscious.
Chrissy Wittmann, the senior director of winemaking, brings her creativity and technical prowess to the process. Along with the director of winemaking, Todd Ricard, she works with over 100 growers in northern California to cultivate exceptional fruit, and in doing so they have produced the leading super luxury red blend in the U.S. by dollar sales and the third top-selling super luxury wine brand on the market, according to data from Circana*. Their lineup includes The Prisoner Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir, Saldo, Unshackled, and Blindfold.
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But the brand’s artistry goes beyond Wittman and Ricard’s talents. The Prisoner is committed to using art and partnerships as powerful tools to raise awareness, advocate for systemic prison reform, and create opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals. The provocative label is inspired by “Le Petit Prisonnier,” an etching by 19th-century Spanish artist Francisco Goya and part of his series “The Disasters of War,” a protest to the brutality and injustice of the Spanish War of Independence fought in 1808. The Prisoner’s label expresses its own stand against modern-day injustices, especially those tied to prison and policing systems.
Using art to elevate an issue and spark conversation and collaboration has become a core tenet of the company. In 2022, they launched Corrections, a limited-edition series designed to raise awareness of mass incarceration and racial injustice. Each annual release features artwork designed to speak to the causes at the heart of the wine company’s identity.
* Circana IRI Total U.S. MULO+C L52W week ending 11/03/24
