After a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry, Chris Mengler and his wife Rita decided to turn their lifelong passion for wine into a vocation, and moved to Sonoma to found Mengler Family Wines. Founded in 2014 and working exclusively with Sonoma fruit sourced from several top vineyards and select American oak, they produce a range of wines including a Chard, a Viognier, Dolcetto, Sangiovese and their amazing Rita’s Block, a true field blend of 18 different grape varieties.

Chris & Rita believe in working close to the land, and handle all aspects of vineyard work and winemaking themselves with help from family and friends. Their production of only about 1500 handmade cases annually showcases a range of unique and compelling styles, all designed to express the fruit and the terroir with minimal manipulation. All fruit is sourced from California Certified Sustainable vineyards. The wines routinely garner 90+ scores from the Advocate, Enthusiast, and Spectator, as well as multiple Golds and “Best in Category” in the SF Chronicle’s annual wine competition.