We partner with Juan Mercado of the new project RIISE. Originally from Mexico but having grown up in Northern California, Juan had a first career as a nurse, but was bitten by the wine bug, and began to explore. He met influential Napa winemaker Pax Mahle, along with several other New Guard Napa winemakers. When Mahle started Pax Cellars in 2000, Mercado offered to help him out, free of charge, and thus began his deep education in viti/viniculture. Juan later went out on his own and founded Realm Cellars in Napa, which quickly became a darling of the critics and amassed a multi-year waiting list. But in 2018, ready for a new adventure, he departed Realm to move to Paso Robles (a place he had always loved) and started RIISE with two purchased vineyards. He enlisted consulting winemaker Anthony Yount (Royal Nonesuch Farms, Kinero, Denner Vineyards) to make his wines, but remains the passionate “vintner” of the project, helping to craft wines of surprising elegance and restraint.