Marchelle was founded by longtime friends Mara and Greg La Follette and Michelle Wong and Kevin Lee and is a celebration of friendship, passion, and a commitment to crafting authentically made wines. The name Marchelle is a melding of “Mara and Michelle”, our wives names, as they are our inspiration for the elegant and expressive wines we create.
At the heart of Marchelle Wines is our head winemaker, Greg La Follette, affectionately known as the “Vine Whisperer.” With a remarkable ability to revive heritage vineyards across California and the world, Greg has helped transform struggling sites into thriving sources of exceptional fruit. His work has contributed to the recognition of many vineyards as part of the Historic Vineyard Society, including the remarkable Betty Ann Vineyard in Russian River Valley, where he rejuvenated 120-year-old Colombard vines, ultimately crafting a 2018 bottling for the esteemed 3 Michelin Star SingleThread Restaurant in Healdsburg CA. Greg’s expertise is rooted in a rich mentorship with the legendary Napa winemaker André Tchelistcheff at Beaulieu Vineyards, and he was instrumental in establishing Flowers Winery as a cult favorite.