Matthiasson Winery, Refosco 2021, Matthiasson Vineyard, Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley, CA

A variety from the Friuli region of Italy and Slovenia, refosco is fruity and earthy. This one from the Matthiasson Family vineyard has aromas of cherry, oregano, and black olive. On the palate it’s balanced between fruity and earthy, with full and soft tannins.

COUNTRY: USA

STATE: California

APPELLATION (AVA): Oak Knoll District

REGION: Central Coast

SUBREGION: Napa Valley

VINEYARD: Matthiasson Vineyard

VINTAGE: 2021

GRAPES: 100% Refosco (Nostrano selection)

SOIL: Alluvium

PRACTICE: Certified organic

VINIFICATION: Grapes destemmed. Fermented in a very small stainless-steel tank. Manual punch downs and pump-overs. Pressed after two weeks on the skins, aged in neutral large-format Puncheons for 11 months. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.

PRODUCTION: 77 cases produced.

STYLE: Still

COLOR: Deep ruby

BODY: Medium bodied

TASTE: Dry

TANNINS: Full and soft tannins

PRIMARY AROMAS: Marionberry, bing cherry, rhubarb, smoky pepper bacon, oregano, fennel, black olive

FLAVOR: Fruity, earthy, savory, clean 

FORMAT: 750ml

ALCOHOL: 12%

SERVICE AND FOOD PAIRING SUGGESTION: Pair with all things Thanksgiving, pork ribs with caramelized fennel and polenta, or potato gnocchi with tomato sauce.

ABOUT THE PRODUCER: Steve Matthiasson

MATTHIASSON is a family endeavor, the effort of Steve and Jill Klein Matthiasson, and their two young sons. They have both had life-long careers in sustainable agriculture, and we apply those ideals of balance, restraint, and respect for the individual—and for the whole—to their wine. Their production is simple but careful. This concept is central to the tradition of viticulture and winemaking. Respect for this tradition forms the core of their work. To that end, their hands literally touch every vine and every bottle.

Steve Matthiasson started out as a vineyard guy, not a winemaker, but with clients that included Araujo, Spottswoode, Chappellet, and Stag's Leap, Matthiasson gleaned valuable info on creating fresh, vibrant new wines. With his “grapes come first” sensibility, his skill at balancing lusciousness with crisp intensity and his fascination with little-known varieties, Matthiasson is helping to change the Napa Valley paradigm.

ABOUT THE VINEYARD: Matthiasson Vineyard

“The Refosco represents 5 rows in our home (“Matthiasson”) vineyard in the Western Oak Knoll area of Napa Valley. It thrives in the moderate marine-influenced climate in the foggy and breezy mouth of the Napa Valley. The vines were planted in 1996. We grafted the budwood onto the mature Merlot vines in 2008. Organically managed, with fruit trees at the ends of the rows and flowering bushes throughout for “good bug” habitat, the vines are serenaded throughout the season by kids, coyotes, owls, bees, and the occasional roar of one of our old tractors.” (matthiasson.com)

ABOUT THE LABEL: All of the art on Matthiasson’s labels are stylized vintage pruning shears, as an homage to the vineyards and those that work with the vines. The labels with just one pruning shear indicate more limited production wines. The labels are created by noted graphic artist Michael McDermott, who “is interested in the relationship between people and the objects they leave behind and the translation of physical experiences into digital spaces.” (mwmcdermott.com)

ABOUT REFOSCO:  “As Matthiasson fans know, we love unusual grape varieties, especially those, like Refosco, from the Friuli region in Northern Italy. Steve first discovered the region on a trip in 2005, where he fell in love with wines made from the indigenous grapes. Upon his return, we began our plantings of Refosco.

“While most Refosco in the U.S. is actually Mondeuse Noire, true Refosco budwood (in our case it is the Nostrano selection) was imported from Italy and officially released in the late ‘90s. We have one of the only plantings in California. 

“Refosco originates in the Friuli region of Italy and Slovenia. An ancient grape, it was first mentioned in print in 1409 at a banquet for Pope Gregory XII and is distantly related to Syrah and Pinot Noir.” (matthiasson.com)