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Matanzas Creek Winery 6097 Bennett Valley Road Santa Rosa, Calif. 95404 (707) 528-6464 • www.matanzascreek.com Hours: 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. daily Tasting fees: $5 (refundable with wine purchase) Varietals offered: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah Appointment necessary: For tours and reserve tastings only. Food pairings: No Picnics OK: Yes |
As you travel Bennett Valley Road along the rural outskirts of Santa Rosa, you’ll come upon Matanzas Creek Winery, which celebrated its 30th vintage in fall 2008. Considering the property was purchased in the early 1970s as a retired dairy farm—albeit one with huge potential—it’s come quite a long way. Today, it’s recognized worldwide as a Wine Country destination. And since it’s off the beaten path (literally and figuratively), it’s worth spending a little time when you come for a visit.
When you make your way up the path toward the winery from the parking area, you find yourself surrounded by beautiful estate gardens, a blend of grasses, olive trees, perennials and an aromatic array of lavender (which is in full bloom in early summer).
Once you reach the winery and tasting room, make sure you stand on the large deck (or enjoy the comfortable seating areas), even for just a little while, to take in the view of the valley, hills and vineyards beyond.
Inside the tasting room, you’ll find all of Matanzas Creek’s wines, as well as boutique items such as clothing, books and a line of products made from the estate’s lavender (bath and body items, sachets, essential oils, bouquets, honey, teas and culinary lavender)—something for all the senses.
In 2000, original owner Sandra McIver sold the property to Jackson Family Wines, which has since hired French winemaker François Cordesse, whose Old World style lends an elegant and heartfelt hand to the wine. Cordesse comes from the Languedoc region of France, and says that in California, we’re “truly blessed by the wine gods.”
Bennett Valley was recognized as an AVA in 2003, and Matanzas Creek is focused on showcasing its terroir. The area is considered cool climate, as the fog that rolls in from the Petaluma Gap keeps the temperature down. It’s an ideal growing area for Merlot grapes, for which the winery is most popularly known.
Tours are free and include a 30- to 40-minute walking tour, a walk through the barrel room, then a visit to the tasting bar. They’re offered 10:30 or 2:30 weekdays, or 10:30 Saturdays by calling (800) 590-6464, ext. 7019. The winery is also available to businesses and private parties for special events.
Matanzas Creek “Custom Crush” Wine Club
Wine club members have priority access to limited production, library and large format wines; preferred pricing on all products; private tastings in the Wine Club Lounge; invitations to the exclusive club celebration called “An Enchanting Evening in Bennett Valley,” which is a wintertime, black-tie optional event that includes visiting with the winemaker, dining by candlelight in the cellar and dancing into the night; a club-only harvest party in October; and first access to tickets to the “June Days of Wine and Lavender” (June is harvest month for lavender). The club has three tiers of quarterly shipment amounts, which include from three to 12 bottles per shipment, and shipments are customizable from a list of selections or per your request.
Did You Know?
Merry Edwards was Matanzas Creek’s first winemaker and remained there until 1985 when she left to start her own winery.
There are more than 4,500 lavender plants on the estate.
The soil profile for the Bennett Valley AVA is 50 percent rock.
