July 14, 2025 (Napa, CA) — Appearing normal in most respects as a winemaker, Paul Morrison has made a radical turn in his winemaking. Trained in classic and modern methods in the UC Davis winemaking program, he decided that something new was needed to overcome the customer’s boredom with so-called normal wines.
He decided to break out of the traditional mindset and design a new product, targeting folks with a younger mind-set, particularly women that make the majority of wine purchasing decisions. He knew he was on the right track when his colleagues told him “No one makes wine like that” or “that won’t taste like a traditional wine” and “you’ll never get that into the bottle.”
Isabella Gold is a unique sweet Chardonnay, made to amplify that varietal’s natural flavors. As Morrison notes: “It’s very much like fermenting wine just after crush, very fresh and full of fruit. It’s a big friendly kiss rather than just a nice hug!”
Departing from the usual winemaking reality was a critical design criterion. First, Morrison decided that the new product would defy categorization. Instead of the “sip and savor” and the ponderous conventions used for traditional wines, the customer would decide if it was a something to be enjoyed by itself, in a mixed drink, or just simply on ice. Not a stuffy product of the consumer’s parents, the product would be an additional choice when considering beer or cocktails.
The packaging is also unique. Isabella Gold is packaged in a 750mL cobalt blue bottle with a distinctive label and a gold screw cap.
The other design decision was to put the product in a personal context. And that led to some review of recent trends and areas of interest by younger thinking consumers. After some back and forth with noted Southern California product designer Darren Walker, it was natural to connect to a romance fantasy context as nothing is better than a tasty adult beverage enjoyed with pleasant company or something fun to read or watch on streaming.
Since Walker and Morrison admit that they “occasionally” read romance fantasy, they decided to write a first-of-a-series novella that features Isabella Gold. “The Evil in the Shadows and the Rebirth of Isabella Gold” is being released at the same time and can be found in most popular e-book stores.Isabella Gold is available for sale direct from the winery through a dedicated website: www.Isabella.Gold
