Matthiasson Wines

Matthiasson Wines is one of the most intellectually engaging small producers in Napa Valley, the personal project of Steve Matthiasson, a viticulturist whose day job consulting for other wineries gives him an unmatched understanding of how grapes are grown across the valley. Founded in 2003, the winery produces wines of deliberate restraint from a 14-acre estate in the Oak Knoll District alongside small lots from carefully selected vineyard partners. Matthiasson was named Winemaker of the Year by Food and Wine magazine in 2014, recognition that validated his commitment to a style that prioritizes balance and food-friendliness over power and point scores.

The 14-acre estate vineyard in the Oak Knoll District is planted to an eclectic mix of varieties that reflects Matthiasson's curiosity and his belief that Napa Valley's potential extends far beyond Cabernet Sauvignon. Alongside the expected Cabernet, the vineyard includes Ribolla Gialla, an obscure Italian variety that produces a textured, aromatic white wine unlike anything else in the valley. The planting also includes Italian red varieties, Chardonnay, and other grapes that most Napa producers would never consider. The Oak Knoll District's cool climate supports this diversity, producing wines of freshness and elegance.

Steve Matthiasson makes the wines with his wife Jill, producing a portfolio that challenges virtually every assumption about what Napa Valley wine should taste like. The White Wine, a field blend of uncommon white varieties, is one of the most original wines in California. The Cabernet Sauvignon is among the most restrained in the valley, picked earlier and aged in less new oak than the prevailing style. The Ribolla Gialla, skin-fermented in the orange wine tradition, is a genuine conversation piece. Total production is around 5,000 cases, large enough to be findable but small enough to maintain the personal touch.

Tastings are available by appointment at the estate, where Steve or Jill often host visitors for conversations that range from grape genetics to soil biology to the politics of wine criticism. The atmosphere is casual and intellectual, more university seminar than luxury tasting room. The wines are poured in the context of the farming and the philosophy, and visitors leave understanding not just what they tasted but why it was made that way. The $55 tasting fee provides access to one of the most distinctive portfolios in the valley.

Matthiasson matters because it represents the future that many wine professionals hope for Napa Valley: a place where diversity, restraint, and intellectual curiosity are valued as highly as concentration, power, and critical scores. Steve's consulting work gives him a panoramic view of the valley's viticulture, and his personal wines reflect the lessons he has learned from farming for dozens of different producers. For visitors who want their wine tasting to expand their thinking rather than just their palate, Matthiasson is essential.