The name “Prodigal” stems from the career paths that founder Stephen Russell has taken. As an early (1960) graduate of the UC Davis Enology program, Steve was the first formally-trained enologist to be hired by the Gallo’s. Not for him so with a twenty-something’s wisdom he decided to leave the industry. After returning to school (DVM and PhD) and an academic career in cancer research, he and his wife, Mary, returned to California to found Quinta Santa Rosa Vineyard / Prodigal Wines in 2001. The ‘prodigal son’ had returned!
