Marcassin Vineyards

Marcassin is a leading Sonoma Coast wine label owned by famous winemaker Helen Turley and her viticulturalist husband John Wetlaufer. Turley is one of the most influential winemakers in California, and has acted as a consultant for many of the region's top estates, including Pahlmeyer and Peter Michael Winery. The estate is regarded as a benchmark producer of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and the wines are known for their rich opulent style and ageworthiness.

All of Marcassin's wines are made from an expanding portfolio of estate vineyards, although until 2008 cuvées were also made from vineyards owned by Martinelli Winery (one of Turley's principal consultant clients until 2010). Marcassin did not have its own winery for many years – the wines were made at Martinelli from 1992 to 2011. 

The vineyards are planted densely, and fruit is picked very ripe. The Chardonnay is pressed in whole bunches, while the Pinot Noir is destemmed and cold-soaked. The wines are then fermented in tanks using natural yeasts. Aging takes place in new French oak and the wines are aged on their lees. No fining, filtering or cold stablization is used so wines may throw a fine sediment or tartaric crystals. Usually the wines are aged five years in bottle before release.