Realm Cellars was founded in 2002 by Juan Mercado, an Army medic turned ICU nurse who cashed in his 401(k) to start a virtual winery, only to lose his entire second vintage in a 2005 Vallejo warehouse fire that destroyed wine from 85 Napa producers. Scott Becker took over as owner in 2012 alongside Bordeaux-trained winemaker Benoit Touquette, who racked up 36 perfect 100-point scores sourcing fruit from storied sites like Beckstoffer To Kalon and Dr. Crane. Wines carry Shakespearean names — Fidelio, The Tempest, Falstaff — reflecting Mercado's original naming convention.