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Wine Business Monthly Dec 1, 2024 Issue
WINEBUSINESS MONTHLY

The Industry's Leading Publication for Wineries and Growers

Winemaking Calculators

The Prisoner Wine Company Expands Saldo Into a Standalone Brand of Luxury California Wines

Oct 1, 2021

Napa Valley, CA, (September 30, 2021) – The Prisoner Wine Company, known for its defiantly different, super-luxury blends with visually provocative labels, today launches Saldo, a new luxury wine brand to build upon its popular Zinfandel bottling. The newest wine, a Red Blend, will be available nationwide in October 2021.

Developed by The Prisoner Wine Company’s Director of Winemaking Chrissy Wittmann and Saldo’s newly-appointed lead winemaker, Todd Ricard, this portfolio now includes a Zinfandel and Red Blend – with plans to release a Chenin Blanc in early 2022 – all sourced from California’s North and Central Coast wine growing regions. Wittmann and Ricard employ The Prisoner Wine Company’s signature method of meticulously blending and continuously refining nontraditional varietals to develop Saldo’s unique style for effortless enjoyment.

“Our Saldo Zinfandel has already garnered popularity among fans of The Prisoner Wine Company, so we’re looking forward to dedicating an entire portfolio to Saldo and to sharing its refined, intriguing personality with new and returning audiences alike,” shares Wittmann.

Ricard joins The Prisoner Wine Company following a tenure as Senior Winemaker at Wild Horse Winery, the Central Coast icon known for its array of varietals. His experience elaborating a diversity of wines prepares him well for The Prisoner Wine Company’s complex, multi-varietal blends.

Meaning “I join” in Italian, Saldo is a labor of love and precision, showcasing the winemaking team’s craftsmanship in creating unique wines from only the highest quality grapes. Just like the wine inside, the bottle design is bold, elegant and refined. The minimalistic and eye-catching label derives inspiration from the Dymo label tape often used by winemakers to track bottles aging in the cellars.

“As the #1 Super-Luxury Zinfandel on the market, and the second most popular wine in The Prisoner Wine Company’s portfolio, Saldo has contributed to double-digit growth year over year since 2017,” says Bukky Ekundayo, General Manager of The Prisoner Wine Company. “Launching Saldo as its own brand, will build on this growth and further solidify The Prisoner Wine Company’s leadership in red blends.”

The portfolio includes:

  • Saldo Zinfandel (SRP $32): A blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Syrah, this dark ruby wine emits bold aromas of black licorice, black pepper, cherry and baking spice. The entry is rich, full, and scintillating. The palate is mouthwatering and smooth with a hint of chocolate. The finish is voluptuous with soft, velvety tannins.
  • Saldo Red Blend 2019 (SRP $32): A blend of Petite Sirah, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel, this wine is approachable and serious, bold and memorable. On the palate, it offers notes of dried black cherries and baking spices, with plenty of density and body.

For more information about Saldo, visit https://theprisonerwinecompany.com/pages/saldo-home


About Saldo

The winemaking team behind The Prisoner Wine Company presents Saldo – a luxury portfolio of wines with undeniable style and flavor – by joining together the best grapes to create a masterful result. The already-popular Saldo Zinfandel, now along with a Red Blend and, soon, a Chenin Blanc, serve as a testament to the high quality of fruit that Winemaker Todd Ricard and his team source from vineyards across California’s Central and North coast winegrowing regions. Just like the wine inside, the bottle is clean-cut, bold, and refined, with a label inspired by Dymo label tape that sparks an alluring curiosity. Available nationwide, Saldo is meticulously made and effortlessly enjoyed by those looking to further explore all that The Prisoner Wine Company has to offer.


About The Prisoner Wine Company

When 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 American perception of what a red blend wine could be. The Prisoner Wine Company grew to include a range of rule-bending blends with provocative label designs, and the portfolio has been recognized by consumers and critics alike as one of the most 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 over 100 growers in northern California, bringing together exceptional fruit to produce a family of bold and intriguing wines. The Prisoner Wine Company is located on Highway 29 in Napa Valley and welcomes visitors year-round for unexpected, immersive experiences.

Companies mentioned in this article:

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