The Marshall family has deep roots in the Sanger area, tracing their history back to the early 1900s when Hugh M. Marshall purchased 160 acres northeast of Sanger, where the family continues to farm today. Wine lovers who enjoy visiting wineries can appreciate the diverse agricultural legacy of the Marshalls, who have cultivated various crops over the decades, including figs, wheat, table and raisin grapes, plums, and nectarines, before ultimately focusing on wine grapes.

The Marshalls have always been hands-on in the processing of their crops, a commitment that led Hugh M. Marshall Jr. to establish the packing operation H. M. Marshall & Son in 1954, specializing in growing, packing, and shipping tree fruit and various types of grapes.

In the early 1980s, the family resumed shipping wine grapes to the East Coast for home winemaking. Hugh’s son began his journey in the wine grape business by accompanying his father on vineyard inspections, purchasing grapes, and preparing them for shipment. While attending Fresno State, he took on a full-time role in the business, picking, packing, and shipping grapes from those same vineyards.

As his interest in wine and winemaking grew, he began to craft wines from the grapes they had been cultivating for years. Initial attempts were rough, but encouragement from his wife, Jenifer, led him to submit his wines to various state and county fair competitions. His wines soon garnered numerous awards, including gold, silver, and bronze ribbons. Each recognition, as well as setbacks, spurred him to improve his craft. He enhanced his knowledge by taking classes from the UC Davis Extension Enology department and attending seminars at Fresno State and Sonoma State.

In 2012, after years of encouragement from family and friends, Hugh and Jenifer launched their own wine label, Maréchal Vineyards. For them, raising their family in a place with such rich agricultural heritage is vital, and they hope wine lovers will join them in celebrating yet another chapter of their family’s adventure in winemaking.

In 2012, after years of encouragement from family and friends, Hugh and Jenifer launched their own wine label, Maréchal Vineyards. For them, raising their family in a place with such rich agricultural heritage is vital, and they hope wine lovers will join them in celebrating yet another chapter of their family’s adventure in winemaking.

Image - cabernet sauvignon grapes - photographer Randy Caparoso

Nestled in the Mayacamas Mountains of southeastern Mendocino County, McDowell Valley Vineyards was established in 1970. This vineyard has one of the longest records of continuous wine grape production in California. Syrah and Grenache have been planted on this soil for almost a century, when the Buckman Family made a perfect match in planting Syrah and Grenache vines in the McDowell Valley. It is because of this rich history and distinct growing conditions that in 1982 McDowell Valley obtained one of the earliest BATF viticultural appellations. Today, of the 330 acres of grapes planted in the 500 acre valley, nearly a third are dedicated to Rhône varietals such as Syrah, Grenache, and Viognier.