Championing the Margins

Megan founded Margins Wine with a mission that resonates as much with her ethics as with her artistry. She works tirelessly with small, organic, and biodynamic vineyards across Northern and Central California, often partnering with growers transitioning to more sustainable practices. Her ethos aligns perfectly with the principles of minimal-intervention winemaking, allowing the grapes and their unique sites to shine.

Margins Wine takes its name from Megan’s commitment to the "margins"—both social and agricultural. Just as marginalized people are often overlooked, so too are certain vineyards, regions, and grape varieties. Megan’s work brings these hidden gems to the forefront, highlighting their untapped potential and offering wine lovers something truly distinctive.

Star Wines

Megan’s wines are a testament to her talent and dedication. Some of the standout bottles include:

• Chenin Blanc from Carmel Valley: Grown at an elevation of 1,200–1,500 feet, this vineyard has been organically farmed for over 60 years. The wine is whole-cluster pressed and fermented in stainless steel, then aged for ten months in a mix of stainless steel and neutral oak. The result? A vibrant, textured wine with bright acidity and layered complexity.

• Pinot Noir from the Santa Cruz Mountains: This Plantation-certified organic vineyard yields a wine that is 100% destemmed, fermented on skins for two days, and aged in neutral oak for ten months. A beautifully balanced Pinot with notes of red fruit, earth, and a silky finish.

• Grenache from Paicines Ranch Vineyard: Located in San Benito County, this vineyard exemplifies regenerative agriculture with holistic grazing and minimum-till organic farming. Megan transforms its fruit into a Grenache that is both elegant and expressive, brimming with red berries and spice.

A Visionary Grafter

Megan’s charm and work ethic are as inspiring as the wines she crafts. She’s not only a winemaker but also an advocate for sustainable agriculture, helping farmers transition to biodynamic practices while showcasing the profound potential of organic farming. Her dedication to ethical winemaking has positioned Margins Wine as a leader in the natural wine movement in California.

Welcoming Melissa Russi to the Margins Team

In the summer of 2023, Melissa Russi joined the Margins team as the Direct Sales Manager. Raised among a small plot of vines in the East Bay, Melissa’s childhood was filled with the scent of dried wine on the concrete garage floor, the thrill of outsmarting rodents, and a mouth full of sour grapes. On bottling day, she helped her family turn the house into a winery, hosting thirty friends eager to bottle and get their case of the next vintage.

With Spanish and Italian roots, wine had always been a family tradition that blended every gathering with meals and conversations. It wasn’t long before Melissa became specifically intrigued by the interplay of wine, food, and the connections it forged around the table.

Her passion for the winemaking experience led her to a harvest internship in Santa Cruz, where she learned the operations of the cellar. She then took her knowledge overseas to Chile, immersing herself in an organic winery and working one-on-one with the winemaker.

Melissa combines her extensive wine experience with a degree in marketing and writing from UC Berkeley, which allows her to orchestrate the delicate balance between wine and conversation in the Margins tasting room. Today, she plays a pivotal role in shaping the Margins experience and continuing the tradition of wine as a connector among people.

A Future-Forward Wine Experience

For wine lovers seeking bottles that are as thoughtful as they are delicious, Margins Wine offers a glimpse into the future of winemaking—a future where sustainability, authenticity, and underdog vineyards take center stage.

To explore Megan’s wines or connect with her, visit Margins Wine or email her at megan@marginswine.com.