Award-winning estate wines from California's most remote and pristine wine valley
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97
Estate Syrah
95
Estate Zinfandel
93
Blackbird Blend
90
Estate Pinot Noir
90
Estate Chardonnay
🥇 Gold — SF Chronicle Wine Competition
97
Estate Syrah
95
Estate Zinfandel
93
Blackbird Blend
90
Estate Pinot Noir
90
Estate Chardonnay
🥇 Gold — SF Chronicle Wine Competition
Our Story
Merlo Family Estate Vineyards
"The fruit expresses such a strong sense of place. I want the unique characteristics of Hyampom Valley fruit to shine through, so that each wine is an elegant expression of the land."
Tucked away in the far reaches of rugged Northern California lies Hyampom Valley — one of California's most remote and pristine wine regions. Our wines are naturally big and bold, yet refined and beautiful, deeply complex without relying on high alcohol or overripe flavors.
45+Acres Planted
1,250Feet Elevation
50°Daily Temp Swing
Award-Winning Wines
Our Wines
Unlike most California wines, Merlo Family Vineyards wines are deep and complex yet not high in alcohol. The red wines are rich, dark and bold with very smooth tannin structure. The whites display bright, vibrant flavors with crisp natural acidity.
97 PTS
Red Wine · Estate
MFV Estate Syrah
Rich, dark and bold with extraordinary depth. Full bodied with complex layers of dark fruit, pepper and earthy minerality.
93 PTS
Red Blend · Estate
MFV Blackbird Blend
Gold Medal — SF International Wine Competition. Named for "Merlo," the Italian word for Blackbird. Boldly structured with elegant balance.
90 PTS
White Wine · Estate
MFV Estate Chardonnay
Bright, vibrant and crisp with naturally high acidity. A true expression of Hyampom Valley's cool, concentrated growing conditions.
Historic Old Town Folsom
Visit Our Tasting Room
Located in the heart of Historic Old Towne Folsom, our tasting room is your gateway to Hyampom Valley. Taste flights, explore bottles, and join the Wine Club.
Welcome to Merlo Family Estate Vineyards, a family-owned gem where authenticity and excellence define our winemaking journey. Situated in the heart of Hyampom Valley, California, our vineyard thrives in a unique microclimate that naturally yields lower quantities but exceptionally high-quality fruit.
Over 45 acres are currently planted with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, and Syrah — quality clones on terroir and site-specific rootstocks. At an elevation of 1,250 feet on the banks of the South Fork of the Trinity River, these are among the most unique vineyard sites in California.
From hand-harvesting to expert fermentation and aging, every aspect of our winemaking process is tailored to preserve the integrity of our fruit and showcase its remarkable quality.
We are committed to making wines that are true expressions of the varietal fruit from which they are made. The only way to truly make great wine is to grow great fruit.
— Ray Merlo, Founder & Winemaker
The Growing Region
Hyampom Valley
Tucked away in the far reaches of Northern California lies Hyampom Valley — a remote river valley hidden amongst towering 8,000 ft. intercoastal mountains of Southern Trinity County. Hyampom, the Wintu Indian phrase for "plentiful valley," is a fitting name for one of the most remote and perhaps most ideal winemaking regions in California.
Located roughly 100 miles north of Sonoma and Napa Counties, Hyampom Valley's growing season runs three to four weeks later than wine country — allowing for much slower ripening, increasing hang time and creating full concentrated flavors without over-ripening or depleting natural acids.
Daily temperature fluctuations of up to 50°F create a rich and complex tannin structure that gives the wines strong backbone. Each night, cool moist air flows down from the majestic forested mountains, making this valley nature's perfect wine incubator.
1,250ftElevation
45+Acres Planted
50°FDaily Temp Swing
4Estate Varietals
Winemaking Philosophy
Minimalist Craft, Maximum Expression
Merlo Family Vineyards was founded on the concept that quality wine is grown in the vineyard. A minimalist approach is taken in the cellar, allowing wines to clearly reflect the varietal character and distinct terroir of Hyampom Valley.
The unique growing season produces exceptional fruit with high natural acidity, resulting in structured wines with deep, elegant, and fresh fruit flavors. Two shoot and fruit thinning passes are made each year to promote quality — the vineyard is thinned prior to veraison to adjust the overall crop load.
Cover-cropping builds organic matter and nutrient cycling, and sustainable farming practices are used throughout. Production is kept to a meticulous 2½–4 tons per acre to ensure concentrated, flavorful fruit in every bottle.
Geology & Terroir
The Soil Beneath Our Vines
The soils of Merlo Family Vineyards are of three distinctly different origins, each contributing to the complexity and character of our wines.
Alluvial Flood Soils
Young alluvial infill from the 1964 flood deposited over 30 feet of new material — mixtures of rock, gravel, and sand with decomposed granite silts. Approximately 70% of the vineyard lies on these freely drained flood soils.
Native Clay Shale
Heavy native clay from shale origins, uniformly deposited from the shale cliffs behind the vineyard. Combined with coastal serpentines, ancient shales, unusual metamorphic rock, and decomposing granites.
Carboniferous Shale
A lead of carboniferous shale crosses the valley near the middle. Mineral soils and large aggregate carried by local streams to the valley floor result in a remarkable cornucopia of soil variability.
The Merlo Family Vineyards Tasting Room is located in the heart of Historic Old Towne Folsom, CA. Experience flights of our wines produced from California's northernmost AVA — Trinity County — or order your favorite by the glass.
We're thrilled to be the recipient of the prestigious 2024 Recommended Award from Restaurant Guru, recognizing excellence in the wine and hospitality experience we provide.
Group tastings and after-hours events can be scheduled in advance. Our newly remodeled tasting room features a warm, inviting atmosphere and a brand-new VIP space designed for relaxing and enjoying exceptional wine with friends.
Each wine is a true expression of Hyampom Valley's unique terroir — bold, complex, naturally structured, and refined. Every bottle reflects our minimalist approach: let the fruit speak.
Best Seller
97pts
Estate Syrah · Red Wine
MFV Estate Syrah
Our flagship red. Rich, dark, and powerful with extraordinary depth. Complex layers of dark berries, cracked pepper, earthy minerality, and smooth, structured tannins — a true reflection of Hyampom terroir.
95pts
Estate Zinfandel · Red Wine
MFV Estate Zinfandel
A Zinfandel unlike any you've tasted. Deep, bold, and elegant — the cool Hyampom nights preserve fresh acidity and create a structured, layered wine with bold dark fruit and spice.
Gold Medal 🥇
93pts
Red Blend · Estate
MFV Blackbird Blend
Named for Merlo — Italian for "Blackbird." Gold Medal winner at both the SF Chronicle and SF International Wine Competitions. Boldly structured with elegant balance and silky tannins.
90pts
Estate Pinot Noir · Red Wine
MFV Estate Pinot Noir
An elegant, expressive Pinot Noir with bright red fruit, silky texture, and remarkable freshness. Hyampom Valley's cool nights and high elevation create a truly refined expression of this noble grape.
90pts
Estate Chardonnay · White Wine
MFV Estate Chardonnay
Bright, vibrant, and lively. Naturally high acidity from Hyampom Valley's cool growing season results in a fresh, concentrated Chardonnay with crisp citrus and stone fruit character.
Limited
Estate Port · Dessert Wine
MFV Estate Port
A luscious, rich Port-style wine from our estate fruit. Richly concentrated with dried fruit, chocolate, and warm spice notes. Perfect for slow sipping or pairing with dessert.
Members Only
Join the Merlo Wine Club
Get exclusive access to limited releases, special pricing, and priority invitations to tasting events. Club members save 15–20% on all purchases.
97 PTS
93 PTS
90 PTS
