Mathis Wine Backgrounder

Inspired by his love of Grenache, veteran Sonoma winemaker Peter Mathis goes far beyond the norm to create mouthwatering, joyous and memorable Rhone-inspired wines from his Mathis Wine estate.
Peter discovered his love for wine—and particularly Grenache—while working as a furniture craftsman in Massachusetts. With his knack of perceiving quality in precise detail, he’d geek out on a particular variety, trying bottlings from different regions and producers, recording his tasting notes and repeating the tastings until he could envision a wine prior to pulling the cork. Before long, Peter decided to become a winemaker.
In 1990, he moved to California and landed a position with Ravenswood where he rose quickly to the top, making wine like a chef instead of a scientist, led by his ability to taste.
He oversaw growth from 30,000 cases to more than 2 million cases in his 20 years at Ravenswood.
During that time, he worked toward his dream of making Grenache. He purchased an exceptionally idyllic site at the base of Moon Mountain, where volcanic soils and intense sun are so optimal, people thought he was crazy not to plant Cabernet Sauvignon.
Instead, he decided to make the very best Grenache he could, planting ultra-premium French clones rather than high-yielding clones in California. Since his first release of his estate Grenache in 2004, Peter now makes a dedicated (direct press) Grenache Rosé, and a red blend led by Petite Sirah, called Über Blend.