

The Cabernet Sauvignon were chosen from two different vineyards. Malbec is another deeply hued grape and contributes inky color and flavors of dark fruit and chocolate. Aged properly, Petit Verdot develops hefty, full-structured wines with rich flavors of plum, blackberry and spice. Petit Verdot is a thick-skinned, deeply colored grape and serves as the power player of the blend. The finish lingers with dark fruit flavors, herbs and old-fashioned saddle leather.
#Matchbook winery full
The blend of three powerhouse reds delivers full flavors of blackberry, cherry, chocolate and pepper spice barrel aging adds a nice dose of vanilla oak. The whites are pure, 100% varietal, while the reds are blended in the spirit of complexity and character.Īrsonist is the Matchbook twist on a Bordeaux blend: 52% Petit Verdot, 26% Malbec and 22% Cabernet Sauvignon. Anchored by Petit Verdot the grace of the wine shows in an elegant bouquet of plum, raspberry and mocha. Their wines are always fruit first, with oak flavors as a supporting element. With a long growing season, hot days and cool, breezy nights, the Matchbook creators grow varietals that thrive in these conditions. For several years the brothers supplied grapes from their vineyards to many top California labels. But insiders know the red gravel soil and climate in the hills make it a hidden gem. Tucked away in Northern California’s gently rolling Dunnigan Hills, Matchbook is located just 30 minutes north of Sacramento and Davis and is a destination for wine lovers looking to discover quality estate-grown varietals.ĭunnigan Hills is often lumped into conversations about the Central Valley as one large wine region.

Just east of Napa, Yolo County is the home to Matchbook Wine Company, aptly named by the pyromaniac brothers. They decided to plant a vineyard and, in the process, created a new California wine growing region. After college, the farm was in trouble and the brothers returned to make the land a viable heritage for the family. They were well-known for all the trouble they caused and most notably for setting fire to things.
#Matchbook winery free
Oh, and they give out free matchbooks sometimes-definitely a cool touch.The Giguiere brothers grew up on a farm in California. Couple Matchbook Wines with visiting Winters to the south and you have yourself a great day. Yolo County is making some interesting wines that are not to be missed. While it is a bit of a hike to get to Matchbook, I would highly recommend making it a part of your trip to wine country.
#Matchbook winery plus
I was floored by the view from the gorgeous back patio of some of their 1200 plus acres of vineyards and the leaves were changing to a lovely reddish color so it really made for a spectacle. Unlike sometimes stuffy Napa, this winery encourages people to bring in their own food so they can have a picnic lunch. On this particular Sunday several groups of people were hanging out and enjoying the autumn sun. Quite delicious.Īs you can see from the photos, Matchbook’s back patio was amazing. Curiously enough, this tasting room in the middle of northern California also had a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc which was super grapefruity and a little like guava. They also had a wine by the name of Tinto Rey that was excellent and their red blend called “The Arsonist” was solid as well. I am a huge lover of Tempranillo and was not disappointed by their version grown right there in Dunnigan Hills. I had previouslythought I was going to do a brief tasting and be on my way, but Adam-my server-showed me some excellent wines in addition to the main flight. I arrived into Matchbook’s small but very tidy tasting room, I was greeted with pumpkins and handsome bottles in the main room. Since Matchbook was only a few minutes away from one of the wakeboard parks I go to, I thought it was only fitting that I try to swing by for a quick tasting. I had known about Matchbook Wines but didn’t know they were a California winery until I discovered them on a little card I had come across listing the wineries of Yolo County (yes it is a real place and their public transportation is the Yolo bus!). But if you’ve got the itch for some little known but quality wine this is the place to be. For a side-jaunt I decided to visit a nearby winery called Matchbook Wines-a fun and unique little winery out in the Dunnigan Hills of northern California. Hey wine drinkers! Since I am somewhat of a masochist and for some reason love being in bitterly cold water, I decided that I would go wakeskating (my hobby/mistress to wine) only a couple weeks away from winter.
