Merry Edwards Winery - Russian River Valley

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Merry Edwards

Chronology

1970

  • BS degree in Physiology from UC Berkeley

1973

  • MA degree in Food Science with an emphasis in Enology from UC Davis

1974-77

  • Winemaker at Mount Eden Vineyards

1977

  • Traveled to France and explored grape clone research at University of Beaune
  • Moved to Russian River Valley, Sonoma County

1977-84

  • Founding Winemaker at Matanzas Creek Winery

1981

  • Purchased property in Russian River Valley for family winery

1984

  • Built Merry Vintners Winery ― focused on Chardonnay
  • Began her winemaking consulting business

1985

  • Taught the first grape clonal seminar at UC Davis

1989-91

  • Vice president and winemaker at Laurier Winery

1996

  • Purchased 24-acre future site of Meredith Estate vineyard

1997

  • Met future husband, Ken Coopersmith, on Grand Canyon rafting trip
  • Co-founded Meredith Vineyard Estate and produced the first vintage of Merry Edwards Pinot Noir

1998

  • Ken and Merry wed
  • Planted Meredith Estate vineyard

1999

  • Released 1997 vintage, first Merry Edwards Pinot Noir
  • With her husband, Ken, purchased 9.5-acre future site of Coopersmith vineyard and Merry Edwards Winery, in central Russian River Valley

2001

 

2002

  • Planted Coopersmith Estate vineyard, named for husband Ken
  • Produced first vintage of Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc

  • Released first vintage of 2001 Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc

2004

  • Winemaker of the Year, San Francisco Chronicle
  • Named one of "The 50 Most Influential Winemakers in the World" by Wine and Spirits Magazine

2005

  • Named "One of America's Top Fifty Most Influential Winemakers" by Forbes
  • Named a Pioneer Woman Winemaker by the National Women’s History Project
  • Wine & Spirits Magazine named Pinot Noir #1 Most Popular in 16th Annual Restaurant Poll

2006

  • Secured 30-year land lease and planted Georganne vineyard
  • Broke ground for Merry Edwards Winery at Coopersmith vineyard
  • 2003 Klopp Ranch Pinot Noir is named 21st in Wine Spectator's "Top 100 Wines of 2006"
  • Olivet Lane Pinot Noir and 2005 Sauvignon Blanc named one of the "Top 100 Wines of 2006" in San Francisco Chronicle
  • Merry Edwards named one of "The Magnificent 30" in Wine Spectator's California Pinot Noir Issue

2007

  • 2005 Sauvignon Blanc is named 40th in Wine Spectator's “Top 100 Wines of 2007”
  • Wine & Spirits Magazine named Pinot Noir #1 Most Popular in 18th Annual Restaurant Poll
  • Merry Edwards Winery opens in Sebastopol, CA

2008

  • 2006 Sauvignon Blanc is named 37th in Wine Spectator's "Top 100 Wines of 2008"
  • Secured 20-year lease of Sanchietti vineyard

2009

 

 

 

 

  • Secured 10-year lease of Flax vineyard

Triple "Top 100 Wines of 2009":

  • 2007 Sauvignon Blanc is named 9th (#1 white wine) in Wine Spectator
  • 2006 Klopp Ranch Pinot Noir is named 28th in Wine Enthusiast Magazine
  • 2007 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir in San Francisco Chronicle
  • Wine & Spirits Magazine named Pinot Noir #1 Most Popular in 20th Annual Restaurant Poll 
2010
  • Wine & Spirits Magazine named Pinot Noir #3 Most Popular in 21st Annual Restaurant Poll and #26 of the top 50 best-selling wines in America's top restaurants
2011
  • Wine & Spirits Magazine named Pinot Noir #1 Most Popular in 22nd Annual Restaurant Poll, as well as #9 Sauvignon Blanc and #9 of the top 50 best-selling wines in America's top restaurants
  • Named a finalist in the James Beard Foundation's annual awards for Outstanding Wine and Spirits Professional, her fourth consecutive nomination.
  • Wine Spectator names 2009 Sauvignon Blanc No. 28 wine in Top 100 Wines of 2011.

Affiliations:

  • American Society of Enology and Viticulture
  • Sonoma County Grape Growers
  • Russian River Valley Winegrowers: Past president and member of the Executive Board

 

Merry circa 1975 at Mount Eden Vineyards

Merry circa 1979 as Matanzas Creek winemaker

Merry with son Ben, harvest 1981

Merry as photographed for PSA (In Flight) magazine, 1983

 Merry in one of her Merry Vintners' tanks, 1989

Merry with client Julia Iantosca, winemaker at Lambert Bridge Winery, 1994

Merry and Ken build their new winery, 2007