This wine is a loving ode to my grandparents. Joseph Dennis McNeil courted Ellen Josephine Redding via the U.S. Postal Service from 1925 to 1928—more than 50 different envelopes exist and each new vintage and colorful envelope tells their story. 

My grandfather’s career as a commercial artist took him south to the City of Angels and fueled what was already a quirky and steady campaign of San Rafael-bound flirtations to one Ellen Redding at 309 5th Avenue. He illustrated “A Fond Remembrance,” of the night a bunch of Regular Fellows tendered him a dinner at the Fior de Italia prior to his departure for Los Angeles.

Countless were the musings and illustrations from my grandfather, the Artist to my grandmother, the Country Girl. And when his career took him south to Los Angeles in 1926, the common thread of all works and formal flirtations became one of motion and travel, to and from one another. His artful campaign was steady, quirky, and led to their wedding on August 9th, 1928 at St. Mary’s Church in Nicasio, California.

In the early 1920’s, my Grandfather’s career as a commercial artist began in San Francisco. He specialized in product design for wine labels, malt liquor, booze, and other household items; he was the brainchild behind many designs that still exist today.

My grandmother’s great grandfather found his way to California “in the first days of the great gold excitement” in 1848. He personified the art of discovery, the act of going for broke, and the idea that risking it all brings about the greatest reward. Starting in 1850, he resided in Marin County where he was considered an original settler and a substantial citizen for over half a century. Paydirt recreates this original California history via heritage vineyard sites and Zinfandel-based blends.