Ridge wines begin with respect for the natural process that transforms fresh grapes into wine, and for the 19th century model of guiding that process. A great vineyard that produce high-quality grapes of distinct, individual character, this approach is not only environmentally and socially responsible, it’s also the best way to consistently make fine wine.

Pianetta winery is located on the vineyard, fourteen miles north of the downtown Paso Robles tasting room. The majority of the grapes harvested are sold to a major premium winery. Their success with Pianetta Estate grapes as well as their encouragement inspired Pianetta to develop a small winery so as to identify the wine from this vineyard.  
The first vintage yielded 370 cases of 2002 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon.  Since then, Pianetta has grown to a 2700 case production and added Shiraz, Syrah, a Syrah/Cabernet blend, and a Rose style wine to their Estate wines, as well as Sangiovese, Petite Syrah, Zinfandel, and a Tuscan style blend from the Paso Robles appellation. 

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