Who makes it
Steve Matthiasson is the founder, farmer and winemaker, as well as a viticulturist and organic farmer. Jill manages sales and brand strategy and farms the family's Napa vineyards and heirloom fruit tree orchards with Steve. The winery makes moderate alcohol wines designed to accompany food.
Where it grows
The family's home vineyard lies in western Oak Knoll, in Napa Valley. It carries Refosco, Cabernet Franc, Ribolla Gialla, Merlot, Tocai Friulano, Petit Verdot and Schioppettino. Linda Vista lies in the same western Oak Knoll area, which Matthiasson identifies as one of Napa's classic Chardonnay locations. The place connects a mixed home planting with a named Chardonnay site.
What they make
Two named bottles show the range's red and white sides. Matthiasson Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a red North Coast wine, while Matthiasson Linda Vista Chardonnay is a white North Coast wine. Cabernet Sauvignon generally brings tannin and dark fruit; Chardonnay generally brings acidity and a lighter frame. Linda Vista places the Chardonnay in western Oak Knoll.
The cellar relies on native yeast and minimal sulfur dioxide, without other additives. Depending on the fruit, grapes are destemmed or kept as whole bunches. Whole bunches leave stems in the fermenting wine and can add spice and tannin; destemming removes that stem contribution.