Sonoma County’s acclaimed winemaker, Merry Edwards, has just sold her Sebastopol winery to Champagne Louis Roederer, the French company famous for producing Cristal Champagne. The deal includes the Merry Edwards brand, winery, inventory and 45 acres of vineyard land.
Roederer currently owns three properties in Mendocino County, in addition to wineries in France and Portugal. This deal marks their first venture into Sonoma County.
Roederer was most impressed with Merry’s distinguished record with Pinot Noir, a growing interest and focus for the company, as well as the fact that she built her winery from scratch. Merry was one of the great pioneers that broke through gender barriers and made scientific discoveries that were crucial to the California wine industry.
Merry will continue working at the winery for at least another year during the transition.