The story behind Margerum
Doug Margerum founded Margerum Wine Company in 2001 in Santa Barbara County, and the dedicated winery moved to Buellton, California in 2012. The dessert and digestif side of the house does something almost nobody else attempts: barrels and 34 liter glass demijohns go up on the winery roof to bake under the California sun, an old world trick rebuilt in a modern facility.
The fortified components run through solera systems, some fractional blended for 12 to 15 years. The amaro infuses 40 ingredients, among them estate garden herbs like sage, thyme, marjoram, lemon verbena and mint, plus dried orange peel, barks and roots. We have poured these for years and the sun shows in every glass.
Explore the Margerum range
Four Margerum bottlings reach us, and each one is a different kind of after dinner. Here is how they line up on the shelf.
| Expression | Type | Proof / ABV | Tasting notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margerum Amaro | Amaro | 36 proof (18% ABV) | 40 botanicals, orange peel, garden herbs, bittersweet finish |
| Margerum Red Blend | Red wine | Not stated | Santa Barbara fruit, dry red, versatile at the table |
| Margerum Riesling | White wine | Not stated | Aromatic white, bright acidity, off dry lean |
| Margerum Sauvignon Blanc | White wine | Not stated | Crisp, citrus driven, cold fermented style |
| Margerum Mute-Age | Fortified dessert | 46 proof (23% ABV) | 16% residual sugar, dark chocolate partner |
Which Margerum is right for you?
Margerum pricing stays honest for what goes into the bottle. The Red Blend is $27.99, and the Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc both sit at $21.99 when we have them. The Amaro is $47.99, which reflects 40 ingredients and years in solera. The fortified dessert bottlings run roughly $20 for a 375mL and $40 to $50 for a 750mL. Buy Margerum online here, and remember the still wines ship only to states where it is legal, confirmed at checkout.
Neat, chilled, or over vanilla ice cream. One bottle covers the whole evening.
Built for flourless chocolate torte. 16% residual sugar meets 23% ABV.
$27.99 and dry, so it works from the first course through the cheese.