Winemaker

Chris Munsell

Chris Munsell feels right at home when he walks the majestic vineyard at MacMurray Ranch. No stranger to grapevines, Chris grew up in California and spent his summers with his grandmother at the family vineyards in Solano County. Those formative years gave him a deep connection to viticulture.

Today, as winemaker at MacMurray Ranch, Chris crafts a collection of elegant Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay wines that speak to the extraordinary vineyards of the Russian River Valley, the Sonoma Coast, the Central Coast and Oregon’s Willamette Valley.

“I am passionate about winemaking, and I truly enjoy the process, from vineyard to bottle,” says Chris. “At MacMurray Ranch, I get to work with grapes from some amazing places. It is deeply satisfying to see those places come to life through our wines.”

Chris understands how a sense of place can shape a wine. As a college student, he interned at wineries in California and France, before graduating from the University of California at Davis with a bachelor’s degree in Fermentation Science, specializing in Viticulture and Enology. Chris honed his craft at some of the industry’s top wineries, including Geyser Peak, Beam Wine Estates and Domaine Chandon. Today, he brings a wealth of experience and a life-long passion for wine to MacMurray Ranch.

“With MacMurray Ranch, I have the good fortune to explore different vineyard sites, from our home ranch in the heart of the Russian River Valley to the extraordinary vineyards of the Sonoma Coast and the Central Coast,” says Chris. “Winemaking gives me a chance to share these special places with everyone.”