Our next chapter
Matthews, the next chapter.
Over the last 14 years, and certainly over the last 12 months, the level of support our family has received has been nearly overwhelming. We are so grateful to have a chance to make wines in such a dynamic region. This has challenged us to ask a simple question: Where does Matthews go next?
While the journey is always more important than the destination, our mission has been steadfast:
Each vintage, we intend to push our vineyards, our winemaking, and our craft to the highest level possible.
Matthews, the next chapter.
As family, over the last 14yrs, and certainly over the last 12 months, the level of support has been nearly overwhelming. We are grateful to have a chance to make wines in such a dynamic region. This level of support has challenged us to ask a simply question: where does Matthews go next?
While the journey is always more important than the destination, our mission has been steadfast:
Each vintage, we intend to push our vineyards, our winemaking, and our craft to their highest level possible.
As many of you know, our family rescued Matthews from financial hardship in 2008, and set forth to get it back on path to crafting pure expressions of wine from our wonder state.
Over the last 14 years, we’ve grown more in love with what type of wine Washington state can produce. Throughout the past several years, we’ve looked to continually improve each aspect of our winemaking. First, it was equipment used for making our wines, from a better sorting table, concrete tanks, smaller stainless tanks for more socialized fermentation.
Next, we’ve looked to add additional vineyard sources to our reserve-level offerings. In 2019, we added Conner Lee back into our portfolio, for the first time since 2003. With 2020, we were fortunate to add vineyard blocks from both Champoux and Walulla Gap
Finally, we’ve added a brilliant winemaking team, capable of crafting the finest expressions of every varietal we make. We are only just beginning to appreciate their dedication to the winemaking craft.
In addition to honing our winemaking process and team, we have also settled on a three-tier wine portfolio that empowers us to craft wines to showcase the very best of what Washington can do, at every level. This has been nearly 10 years in the making.
WIth our 2013 vintage, we introduced our first Reserve-level wine, the Reserve Claret. We’ve continued to release new Reserve-level wines as we grew comfortable with our vineyard sites, knowing which of them could produce remarkable wines, each vintages.
Example of these are our Reserve Claret, Reserve Cuvée, and Reserve Sauvignon Blanc.
Starting with the 2019 vintage, we added our AVA level wines, which are focused on showcasing the unique texture and flavor that comes from these dynamic smaller regions within the Columbia Valley.
Examples of these are our Royal Slope Sauvignon Blanc, and our Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon.
Finally, we have our Columbia Valley wines, where are the entry point to Matthews. These wines are a showcase of the breadth Washington State terroir, across our largest AVA, the Columbia Valley.
Examples of these are our Columbia Valley Claret, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, and others.
Starting in the Fall, we are set to begin releasing our 2020 red wines, and our 2021 white wines. With the added sites in Horse Heaven Hills, these wines feature new components of flavor complexity, and further push each wines individual personality.
Many of our mailing list and wine club members have been with us for years. You deserve to enjoy Matthews at its highest potential, and these new wines showcase an answer to this promise.
Thank you for your belief in us, and in our wines. Your support has empowered us to continue to improve, each vintage. We are grateful everyday for the ability to craft the very best wines we possibly can, and continue to showcase what a wonderful place Washington State is.
Onward into the 2022 harvest!
Finally, we recruited a brilliant winemaking team that is capable of crafting the finest expressions of every varietal we make. We are only just beginning to appreciate their dedication to the winemaking craft.
In addition to honing our winemaking processes and team, we have also settled on a three-tier wine portfolio that empowers us to craft wines to showcase the very best that Washington can offer, at every level. This has been nearly 10 years in the making.
With our 2014 vintage, we introduced our first Reserve-level Claret. This wine paved the way for an entire tier of Reserve-level wines to follow. These wines were only made possible as we grew comfortable with our vineyard sites, knowing which of them could produce remarkable wines, each vintage.
Examples of these are: Reserve Claret, Reserve Cuvée, and Reserve Sauvignon Blanc.
Starting with the 2019 vintage, we added our AVA-level wines (American Viticultural Area). These wines focus on showcasing the unique texture and flavor that comes from these smaller areas within the Columbia Valley.
Examples of these are: Royal Slope Sauvignon Blanc, and Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon.
Finally, we have our Columbia Valley wines, which are the entry point to Matthews. These wines showcase the breadth of Washington State terroir, sourcing from across Washington's broadest AVA, the Columbia Valley.
Examples of these are: Columbia Valley Claret, Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley Cuvee, Columbia Valley Sauvignon Blanc.
Starting in the Fall, we will begin releasing our 2020 red wines, and our 2021 white wines. With the added vineyard sites in Horse Heaven Hills (Champoux and Walulla Gap), these wines feature new components of flavor complexity, and further push each wine's individual personality.
Many of our mailing list and wine club members have been with us for years. You deserve to enjoy Matthews at its highest potential, and these new wines showcase an answer to this promise.
Thank you for your belief in us, and in our wines. Your support has empowered us to continue to improve with each new vintage. We are grateful every day for the ability to craft the very best wines we possibly can, and continue to showcase the wonderful wine region that Washington State is.
Onward, into the 2022 harvest!
–The Otis Family and entire team at Matthews
