In 1976, industry pioneer Bruce Markham acquired his first 230 acres of Napa Valley vineyards, and founded Markham Vineyards the following year, with the now local Napa legend, Bryan Del Bondio as the winery's first employee. In 1980, Markham crafted its first vintage of Napa Valley Merlot, becoming only the fourth winery in Napa Valley to make varietal Merlot, and a decade later, Markham's flagship bottling was named "Merlot of the Year" by Wine Spectator.