Golden Era, Golden Scenes
Matthews has made leaps and bounds, increasing wine quality exponentially in a very short period of time, ensuring the Matthews brand will evolve and reposition under the Otis family and their newer winemaking team.— Anthony Mueller, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
In 2021, we reinvented ourselves. A new winemaking team, new vineyard parcels across Royal Slope, Red Mountain, and Horse Heaven Hills, rigorous vineyard work, longer and steadier fermentations, and barrels that frame rather than cover the wine. It was a complete winemaking overhaul, start to finish.
Nearly everything changed, with some changes being minor, and others so major they couldn’t be ignored. One place where our improvements were the most apparent… the calendar. Namely, the two most significant milestones in our winemaking process: when we harvest our vineyards, and how long (and slow) each vineyard lot ferments and stays in tank for extend maceration.
In 2021, we harvested our vineyards 3 - 6 weeks later than 2020, with our final pick coming on October 29th, yielding a more mature and harmonious texture you can feel in the glass. Fermentation and maceration also shifted from an average of 17 days to 34 days or more, roughly doubling time in tank to build polish and length.
In 2022, we pushed further. Our last vineyard parcel was harvested on November 9th, with fermentations starting November 10.
Thirty-four days later, on December 15th, we were rolling the final lots to barrel. Three years later, the 2021 and 2022 reviews are the highest we’ve ever received, and we’re deeply grateful. It feels like every late pick and long night in the cellar was worth it.
To bring you closer to the look and feel of those late-season moments, we captured scenes from the final days of harvest and turned them into digital wallpapers, tailored for every screen you use (Phone, Tablet, Desktop, TV and Watch).
Experience the magic happening in our golden vineyards, shot between late October and early November, as our region enters its Golden Era.
Thank you for letting us bring you deeper into the Columbia Valley. There has never been a better time to experience it, perhaps for the first time.
To bring you closer to the look and feel of those late-season moments, we captured scenes from the final days of harvest and turned them into digital wallpapers, tailored for every screen you use (Phone, Tablet, Desktop, TV and Watch).
Experience the magic happening in our golden vineyards, shot between late October and early November, as our region enters its Golden Era.
Thank you for letting us bring you deeper into the Columbia Valley. There has never been a better time to experience it, perhaps for the first time.
