In the warm, inland wine growing Creston District of Paso Robles, a family-owned winery is quietly crafting some of the region’s most acclaimed Cabernet Sauvignons. Chateau Margene, now in its 27th year, represents both a deeply personal dream realized and a pioneering vision that helped establish Paso Robles as a world-class destination for Bordeaux varietals. Founded by Michael and Margene Mooney, this intimate estate winery produces just 2,500 to 3,000 cases annually, with a singular focus: quality over quantity.
What sets Chateau Margene apart isn’t just their exceptional wines—though their collection of 95+ point ratings speak volumes. It’s the convergence of seven generations of California heritage, organic farming practices, and a family’s commitment to expressing the unique character of the Creston District through meticulously crafted Bordeaux-style wines.
A Pioneer’s Path to Paso Robles
Michael Mooney’s connection to California’s Central Coast runs deeper than most. His family history in the state spans seven generations, five of them rooted in this very region.
Michael—who spent his entire life in the Tri-County area of Central California—chose to return to his ancestral region to fulfill a very different dream. After successful careers as a stockbroker in Los Angeles and business development manager for a high-tech company, he and his wife Margene were looking for a meaningful change. On a weekend wine tasting trip to Paso Robles in the late 1990s, visiting wineries like Eberle and JUSTIN, Michael had a revelation.
“I am passionate about Paso and believe we produce phenomenal, distinct wines” Michael explains. He realized there was extraordinary talent in this small town, and it sparked an aspiration not just to produce wine, but to create world-class Bordeaux blends.
In 1997, the Mooneys took the leap. By summer 1998, the family had moved onto their property in what is now known as the Creston District AVA, and by fall of that year, they had planted their estate vineyard. Their first wine, a 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon, set the course for everything that would follow.
The Creston District: An Ideal Terroir
The Mooneys’ choice of location was no accident. “Our vineyards are in the Creston District, just outside of Paso Robles,” they note. “The combination of well-drained soils, warm days, and cool nights allows grapes to develop rich flavors while maintaining natural balance.”
This unique climate encourages slow, even ripening, giving their wines the complexity and structure that has become their hallmark. The Creston District’s distinctive terroir differs markedly from other Paso Robles sub-regions—something Michael is passionate about highlighting.
As he noted in a 2023 SOMM Journal article profiling Paso’s Cabernet pioneers: “The Creston District is distinct from Adelaida, from Willow Creek, from Estrella… each has its own unique terroir.”
A Family Affair
“My favorite thing is the sense of connection—to the land, to the grapes, and to the people who enjoy our wines. Every bottle tells a story of our vineyard, our practices, and our dedication.”
To this day Chateau Margene remains an intimate family operation where every member plays a vital role. The estate consists of two vineyard blocks, each named with deep personal meaning. Stella’s Vineyard, planted in 2014, honors both Margene’s mother and their granddaughter (Jon’s daughter). It’s planted to two clones of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The front vineyard, Michael’s Vineyard, carries the name shared by Michael himself, his older son and their grandson. Here grows Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, and Sangiovese.
“My favorite thing is the sense of connection—to the land, to the grapes, and to the people who enjoy our wines,” reflects the family. “Every bottle tells a story of our vineyard, our practices, and our dedication.”
The family does the lion’s share of the work themselves, from vineyard management to cellar operations. “Farming practices are organic and sustainable,” they explain, following principles focused on “soil health, cover crops, and natural pest control. Every decision is guided by supporting the vines’ natural growth cycle and encouraging biodiversity.”
Michael has managed the vineyard and overseen winemaking alongside their son Jon, who has served as Director of Operations and assistant winemaker. As of 2023, Jon has taken over the management of those operations. Margene runs the day-to-day business operations and has carved out her own special role as the dedicated winemaker for their Cabernet Franc—her favorite varietal.
This hands-on approach stems from lessons learned over more than two decades. “Patience and attention to detail are crucial,” they note. “Great wine starts in the vineyard, and nurturing the land season after season is as important as work in the cellar.”
Pioneering Paso’s Cabernet Movement
While Paso Robles built its initial reputation on Zinfandel and Rhône varietals, a small group of visionaries in the 1970s and 1980s recognized the region’s potential for world-class Bordeaux wines. Michael Mooney was among them, part of a pioneering generation that included Gary Eberle and Justin Baldwin.
In 2013, when Daniel Daou approached Michael with the idea of forming the Paso Robles CAB Collective, Chateau Margene became one of seven founding members of this grassroots organization dedicated to raising awareness for the region’s Bordeaux varieties and setting winemaking standards.
As Michael explained the mission: “It’s not about saying we are better or worse than other winemaking regions; it’s just to showcase who we are and the wines we can produce … The PRCC is about getting the word out.’”
This collaborative spirit, combined with fierce dedication to showcasing what makes each district unique, has helped establish Paso Robles as a serious contender in the world of premium Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux blends.
The Winemaking Philosophy
At the heart of Chateau Margene’s success is a clear, unwavering philosophy. “Quality over quantity and minimal intervention are key,” Michael explains. “We let the grapes speak for themselves and hand harvest at peak ripeness and balance for each varietal.
Their process begins with hand-harvesting and meticulous sorting. “Grapes are hand-harvested, meticulously sorted, and after a three-day cold soak, fermented in small open-top fermenters where the grapes are punched down by hand. “After gentle pressing, the free run juice is separated into 50-100% new French oak barrels for up to 32 months aging before blending and bottling.”
This small-lot fermentation approach allows them to tailor techniques to each vineyard block, treating each lot as its own unique expression. They also implement subtle barrel fermentation and extended barrel aging for select lots to enhance texture, complexity and aromatic depth.
Quality control happens constantly. “Each barrel is tasted regularly, and blending highlights the best qualities of each lot, ensuring that only the finest wine makes it into the bottle”.
Award-Winning Wines: Small Lots, Big Impact
The accolades speak for themselves. Chateau Margene’s wines consistently earn scores in the mid 90s, with their 2020 Cask 4 achieving an extraordinary 99 points from the SOMM Journal. Their 2019 vintage alone garnered multiple 95+ point ratings across their portfolio from prestigious publications including the SOMM Journal, Wine Enthusiast, and Tasting Panel Magazine.
The Flagship: Beau Mélange
“Our Beau Mélange has been the ultimate expression of our estate since the 2002 vintage,” the family proudly states. This Bordeaux-style blend combines Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec—the exact percentages varying by vintage to reflect each year’s unique character.
The 2019 Beau Mélange earned 95 points from Tasting Panel Magazine, which described it as having “a mouthfeel that is a paradigm of dusty tannins and cashmere carpet of plum and mocha. The remarkable muster of violets, cherry pie, and sweet earth is generous, vibrant, balanced and well structured.” After 23 months in 100% French oak, this wine represents the culmination of everything Chateau Margene strives to achieve—power balanced with elegance, complexity married to drinkability, and a true expression of their Creston District terroir.
The Cask Series: Small-Lot Excellence
For those seeking the pinnacle of Chateau Margene’s craft, the Cask series represents small-lot wines that showcase specific blending philosophies and exceptional barrel selections.
The 2020 Cask 4 earned an impressive 99 points from the SOMM Journal. This left-bank inspired blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Cabernet Franc spent 30 months in 100% new French oak. The SOMM Journal described it as “strikingly elegant, with notes of espresso and loose tobacco. Slate runs through black plum with a bevy of violets in bloom. Chewy tannins go juicy. This is a plush and confident red.”
The 2019 Cask 7 takes a different approach, drawing inspiration from Bordeaux’s right bank with a blend of 52% Merlot and 48% Malbec. Aged 30 months in 100% new French oak, it earned 96 points from the SOMM Journal, which praised it as “exotic and lush across the mouth, with velvet-lined tannins that extend sensations of dried violets, vanilla-inspired espresso and ripe, deep, juicy plum.”
Estate Cabernet Sauvignons
True to their pioneering vision, Chateau Margene produces vineyard-designated Cabernet Sauvignons from both Stella’s Vineyard and Michael’s Vineyard. These wines showcase the subtle differences between their two estate blocks and the evolution of vines at different stages of maturity.
The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon from Stella’s Vineyard earned 95 points and a Publisher’s Pick designation from the SOMM Journal, along with 95 points from Wine Enthusiast’s Cellar Selection.
Margene’s Pride: Cabernet Franc
While Michael oversees most winemaking operations, the Cabernet Franc is Margene’s domain—and it shows. For over a decade, she has been crafting this wine with obvious passion and skill.
The 2020 vintage earned 95 points from the SOMM Journal, while the 2019 received 94 points and high praise: “This 23-month French-oak aged 100% Cab Franc is Margene’s favorite variety… Spiced heather, wild boysenberries, and slate are a heady combo of texture and flavor. Like a Chinon, there is a hint of jalapeño and dried oregano, with high-toned acidity and a juicy disposition.”
For those familiar with Loire Valley Cabernet Franc, this comparison to Chinon—one of the Loire’s most celebrated appellations—is high praise indeed.
Beyond Cabernet: The Extended Portfolio
While Chateau Margene built its reputation on Bordeaux varietals, the Mooney family’s passion for winemaking extends into other realms, each with its own distinct identity.
Mooney Family Wines
Started in 2004, the Mooney Family label focuses on cool-climate varieties from California’s celebrated coastal appellations. Sourcing fruit from growers in the Santa Lucia Highlands and Sta. Rita Hills, they produce exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that have earned their own acclaim.
The 2021 Mooney Family Pinot Noir from Sta. Rita Hills earned 94 points from the SOMM Journal, as did their 2021 Chardonnay from Santa Lucia Highlands. These wines offer Chateau Margene visitors the opportunity to explore the family’s versatility and understanding of terroir beyond their home estate.
ROXO Port Cellars
A unique offering in the Mooney portfolio is ROXO Port Cellars, producing both Ruby and Tawny port-style wines. What distinguishes these wines is their production method—Methodo Portuguese, which uses neutral grape spirits rather than brandy to fortify the wine.
The commitment to these wines is evident in the aging. Their port-style wines are aged a minimum of 7 years in French oak, some spend up to 15 years in barrel. For port enthusiasts, these offerings represent serious, age-worthy wines crafted with the same attention to detail as their Cabernet program.
The Chateau Margene Experience
Visiting Chateau Margene offers an authentic, intimate experience far removed from the sometimes corporate feel of larger wineries. The family lives on the property, and there’s a genuine sense that you’re being welcomed into their home and their passion.
The winery offers wine tasting and their “Elevated Tour & Tasting Experience” by appointment only, where Michael or Jon personally guide visitors through Chateau Margene’s viticultural and winemaking processes. The tour concludes in the barrel room with a seated tasting of their current Luxury Flight—an opportunity to taste through their premier offerings while discussing winemaking philosophy directly with the person who crafted them. This personalized approach reflects the family’s genuine desire to share not just their wines, but the knowledge and passion behind them. As they note, the connection they feel “to the land, to the grapes, and to the people who enjoy our wines” is what makes the work meaningful.
Special Events: A Wine Club Like Family
Chateau Margene’s approach to their wine club reflects the same intimacy and personal touch that characterizes everything they do. “We host annual Spring and Fall Release parties for wine club members and their guests in April and November where guests can experience their new releases, learn firsthand about small-lot winemaking and gain insights into the upcoming vintage. It’s the kind of access that larger wineries simply cannot provide—a genuine peek behind the curtain,” they explain.
Planning Your Visit
The estate is located in the Creston District at 4385 La Panza Road, Creston, CA. The winery is open Fridays, Saturday and Sundays, by appointment only, for both their tasting experience and their Elevated Tour & Tasting Experience. Appointments can be arranged on their website.
For those planning a visit, arriving with an open mind and genuine curiosity will be rewarded. This is a place where you will run into the winemakers themselves—where the person pouring your wine is the same person who pruned the vines, managed the fermentation, and made the final blending decisions.
A Legacy of Quality and Connection
Twenty-seven years after planting their first vines, the Mooney family has established themselves as not just pioneers of Paso Robles Cabernet, but as dedicated stewards of their land and passionate ambassadors for the Creston District’s unique character.
For wine enthusiasts exploring Paso Robles, Chateau Margene offers something that cannot be manufactured or marketed: authenticity. Here, you’ll find world-class wines crafted by the people who grew the grapes, guided by respect for the land, all offered with the warmth and generosity that comes from genuine passion.
Whether you’re a dedicated Cabernet enthusiast, a collector seeking limited-production wines with serious aging potential, or simply someone who appreciates meeting the people behind exceptional wines, Chateau Margene delivers an experience that resonates long after the last sip. In an era of corporate consolidation and mass production, this family winery stands as a testament to what’s possible when talent, terroir, and dedication converge.
As Michael notes, “Our mission isn’t to compare ourselves to Napa or anywhere else, it’s to express, to the best of our ability, our distinct site by farming and crafting world-class wines with integrity, passion, and an abiding connection to the land—that is more than enough for us.”
