As you enter the San Antonio Valley, the landscape is composed mostly of dry brush, baron land of trees and scrub, and little green. However, as you come closer to the Matetic Vineyards, the landscape explodes with vines. As far as you can see, the vines expand into the region. Once you reach the winery, you are surrounded by a new and enticing looking building.
Matetic was founded in 1999 by the Croatian Matetic family. The family’s main staple is not the winery, but they are very concerned with leaving as little impact on the environment as possible. The vineyards were originally white grape varietals but have since switched to whites and reds of Syrah, Cabernet, Gwertz, Reisling, and Sauvignon Blanc. Matetic has been able to achieve one of the highest rated Syrah’s from a region so close to the ocean, a task that has not been able to be repeated by other wineries.
The winery is certified organic by the CVS of Germany, a feat not easily achieved. In order to maintain their organic certification, Matetic produces their own fertilizers and brings nothing onto the property that does not naturally exist there. By using the manure of animals on the property, having chickens graze through their vineyards, the vines are well fertilized with essential nutrients and insect control is never an issue. Having chickens on the property also allows Matetic to filter their red wines with the whites of the eggs, a natural way to achieve “clean” wines. The main goal of the winery is to prevent sickness, not to find a way to cure it.
Of the 15000 total hectares the property sits upon, the 170 hectares of vineyards produces approximately 14000 cases of wine. This is achieved through their gravity flow production facility, using no pumps or artificial flow. The building you first see upon the property is designed in a very unique way. This building is built into the ground, with a roof of native plants. This serves not only as a natural way to keep the facility cool, but also helps in their effort to achieve complete biodynamic production. The building is also designed to allow warm air to escape during the day, and the cool air can flow in at night. Being able to control the temperature of your aging room is essential to producing the kind of wine you want.
I was most impressed with the quality of not only the wine, but the production of the wine itself. At Matetic they have almost perfected organic growing and biodynamic production of fine wines. This is clearly evident in the wines, and I found their Winemakers Blend of 2007 to be their best wine. I would recommend everyone to go and see how a winery is achieving organic and biodynamic production of fine wines.
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