Mossback – Matchbook Wines

Category: Mossback

 

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November 29th, 2022

Matchbook is Certified Green

by: Lane Giguiere

Maybe you’ve noticed the sheep. Or you’ve seen the carpet of green grass, peas and flowers blanketing the vineyard floor.

Both are evidence of Matchbook’s conversion from conventional farming to regenerative and organic. Three years into this project, our sustainable efforts have been recognized by Project Harvest’s California Rules Sustainable Winegrowing certification on the 400 acres of estate vineyards.

The California Rules Certified Green seal signifies a third-party audited commitment to farming that is environmentally and socially responsible while also being economically viable. This credential is just the first step in our mission to become certified organic and regenerative.

While the winery’s initial goal of improving vine health through regenerative farming was to increase the quality of our Estate Bottled wines, “The environmental benefits are now as big a focus,” says John Giguiere, owner of Matchbook Wine Company. The prolonged drought and rising costs make the move to regenerative agriculture more important. Cover crops, grazing sheep and compost teas have eliminated the need for synthetic fertilizers, created a carbon sink and increased the water-holding capacity of the soil.

“It’s been invigorating to take on this large and very important project at this stage of our careers,” Giguiere continues. “Reversing 40 years of farming philosophy is not easy, but we see the need to reduce our farming inputs and water usage while increasing quality and profitability. Sustainable and regenerative agriculture is a win for both the farmer and the environment.”

The California Rules Certified Green Sustainable Winegrowing seal will be added to Matchbook’s estate grown wines beginning with the 2022 vintage.


May 24th, 2018

Wine & Spirits 90 Points and Best Buy – Oh My!!

by: Virginia Valdez Sandfer

We are thrilled to have our 2016 Mossback Russian River Valley Chardonnay highlighted in Wine & Spirits Magazine June issue. We love the review’s mouthwatering flavor descriptors “…notes of apple skin, tart white cherries and lemongrass.”

Mossback Winemaker, Dan Cederquist, has been working with the Mossback Russian River Valley Chardonnay vineyard for over two decades. Dan loves this vineyard for the crisp apple and beautiful fruit components. Winemakers are like parents, they don’t really pick favorites, but it is fair to say the Mossback Russian River Chardonnay is one of Dan’s “go-to” wines.

Visit our web store to get a bottle of this delicious and refreshing Chardonnay today!


November 29th, 2017

New Release – 2015 Mossback Chalk Hill Cabernet Sauvignon!

by: Virginia Valdez Sandfer


 
The 2015 Mossback Chalk Hill Cabernet Sauvignon is now available. Winemaker Dan Cederquist tells us a little about the Chalk Hill appellation and describes the winemaking techniques that make this wine so special. To order a bottle of the 2015 Mossback Cabernet Sauvignon please click here.


March 13th, 2017

Gold, Gold, Gold and Double Gold from SF Chronicle Wine Competition

by: Virginia Valdez Sandfer

 

We are thrilled to share that Matchbook Wine Company earned 19 medals, including one Double Gold and three Gold medals at the 2017 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.  John, Lane and Karl Giguiere founded Matchbook with the goal of making artisan wines at a price they did not mind paying. This commitment to quality and value is affirmed in the 2017 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Visit our Web store to buy these gold medal wines today!


August 24th, 2016

Convention goes up in smoke at Dunnigan Hills winery

by: Lane Giguiere

Lauren King captured the innovative spirit of the Matchbook story in her August 23, 2016,  feature in the Daily Democrat:

A Yolo County winery is blazing a new path in an industry from an unlikely vantage point.

John and Lane Giguiere began Matchbook Wine Company in the Dunnigan Hills to bring great wine and reputation to the region.

The couple met and fell in love at Woodland High School and after college, they joined John’s brother in taking over the family farm.

“I studied psychology in college and it didn’t seem very relevant. Everything was theoretical, nothing real. Putting a seed in the ground and seeing it come out of the ground and grow, that was real,” said John of his decision to move back to the family home.

At first, the couple tried their hand at the traditional trades of the area — dry grains and sheep. When that didn’t work, they tried planting beans, corn, and other irrigated crops. The couple could still not make ends meet.

“In a last ditch effort, we planted 10 acres of grapes to sell to other wineries. We ended up not selling them and instead hired a grad student out of UC Davis to make wine for us. That worked,” recalled Lane.

In the first year, they sold 4,000 cases of wine. In the next year, that number would grow to 40,000 and to 150,000 in the next.