About The Prisoner Wine Company
Dave Phinney, who would go on to found Orin Swift Cellars, released the first vintage of The Prisoner in 2000, just 385 cases of a Zinfandel-based field blend inspired by a Francisco de Goya etching his parents had given him as a gift. The unconventional dark label and untraditional blend, at a time when single-varietal wines dominated Napa Valley, built a cult following that grew production to roughly 85,000 cases by 2010, when Phinney sold the brand to Huneeus Vintners for a reported $40 million.
Huneeus grew the label further before selling it and four related brands, including Saldo, to Constellation Brands in 2016 for $285 million. The Prisoner Wine Company now operates out of the former Franciscan Estate property in Rutherford, with winemaker Jen Beloz, who took over from Phinney in 2011, continuing to develop the portfolio beyond its original flagship blend.
Dave Phinney's 2000 field-blend project, sold from Orin Swift to Huneeus Vintners in 2010, then to Constellation Brands in 2016 for $285 million.
✓
Started with just 385 cases,the first vintage of The Prisoner in 2000 was a tiny release that grew into one of the best-known red blends in American wine within a decade.
✓
Named after a 19th-century etching,founder Dave Phinney built the brand's identity around a Francisco de Goya print depicting a prisoner, a gift from his parents when he was 12.
✓
Sold twice for hundreds of millions,the brand changed hands from Phinney to Huneeus Vintners for a reported $40 million in 2010, then to Constellation Brands for $285 million in 2016.
"Dave Phinney's 2000 field-blend project, sold from Orin Swift to Huneeus Vintners in 2010, then to Constellation Brands in 2016 for $285 million."
Visit Pending
Score Breakdown
Ratings will appear after verified reviews
Wine Quality
Not yet rated
Tasting Experience
Not yet rated
Value for Money
Not yet rated
Family Friendly
Not yet rated
Dog Friendly
Not yet rated
Reviews Across the Web
loading...
WN
Wino Notion
Not yet rated Awaiting reviews
Scores from
Google Maps via its official API · Updated every 24 hours · Click any row to view full reviews
Featured Wines
Current Releases
Wines change with each vintage
For an accurate list of current-release wines and library bottlings from The Prisoner Wine Company, please check the winery's official website or contact the tasting room directly. Rutherford producers typically rotate vintages and offerings seasonally.
🥂
Immersive Art Estate Appointment
Daily appointment at Rutherford’s most art-forward and boundary-breaking wine estate, The Prisoner Red Blend, Blindfold White, and Saldo Zinfandel in an immersive art-installation hospitality environment at the Galleron Road estate. The most visually provocative and conceptually engaging Napa Valley tasting appointment.
$40
Photo Gallery
Recent Reviews from Our Community
No Community Reviews Yet
This winery does not have any published Wino Notion community reviews yet. Be the first to share a recent visit and help other wine travelers know what to expect.
Write the First Review → 
Not Yet Reviewed
The Hess Collection Winery
California · Napa Valley
Not Yet Reviewed
The Mascot
California · Napa Valley
Not Yet Reviewed
The Napa Valley Reserve
California · Napa Valley
Not Yet Reviewed
The Vice
California · Napa Valley
Not Yet Reviewed
The Vineyard House
California · Napa Valley
Not Yet Reviewed
The Wine Foundry
California · Napa Valley