We are proud to introduce the first vintage of our Estate Marquette wine.

Harvested in 2021 and aged in hybrid American and French oak barrels, just 48 cases were made.

The Marquette grape is a hybrid varietal developed by the University of Minnesota for cold hardiness and disease resistance. In 2018 we planted our first Marquette vines, and they have thrived in our Southern California climate. Remarkably, these incredibles vines have NEVER been sprayed. For us, Marquette is the lazy farmer’s favorite, and as far as we know, Storum Ranch is the only commercial producer of Marquette in California.

A cousin of Pinot Noir, our Marquette grown at the base of Volcan Mountain in Julian, offers a bolder profile. Deep red color in the glass, big aromatics of cherry cola, a touch of barbecue and rich French oak capture your senses. As you taste, bright, red plum with subtle notes of eucalyptus rolls across your tongue. A hint of molasses and grippy tannin emerge mid palate, leading to a long, sweet  vanilla finish with mouth-watering acidity that pairs perfectly with Thanksgiving meals or any gathering with good food and great friends.

And how about that label?

Our small mountain community is home to many artists in a wide range of mediums. We are excited to begin featuring this local talent on our labels. The original art for our 2021 Estate Marquette labels features a perspective of our vineyard and orchard looking up toward Volcan Mountain. It was painted by Aaron Gray Melzow. We used this gorgeous landscape as the basis for all of the labels on our wines bottled in 2024 and as the color palette for all our ciders bottled in 2024. Find more of Aaron’s work on Instagram here.