Founded in 1977 by Sandra MacIver with Merry Edwards as the inaugural winemaker, Matanzas Creek did more than launch a winery: it founded an AVA. The estate played a central role in securing Bennett Valley's official designation in 2003, and its Sauvignon Blanc helped define the category for a generation of California winemakers. Purchased by Jackson Family Wines in 2000, the winery continues to produce site-expressive wines from sustainably certified estate vineyards. The property is also famous for its lavender fields, a defining landmark of Bennett Valley.
Bennett Valley Merlot: the signature wine that made the appellation's reputation; black cherry, dark chocolate and a classic, balanced style.
Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc: a nine-vineyard blend, individually harvested and fermented; bright, layered and a longtime benchmark.
Bennett Valley Chardonnay: firmly structured, with golden apple, pear and a cool-climate line of acidity.
Estate Red Blend, Bennett Valley: a Bordeaux-style blend led by Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot and Malbec; ripe and structured.
Journey Red Blend: from the winery's Journey line, which also includes a Chardonnay, a Pinot Noir and a Sauvignon Blanc.
The estate's three acres of lavender are hand-cut and dried each year and sold at the winery as lavender products, and Matanzas Creek was among the first wineries to earn Certified California Sustainable status.
Matanzas Creek sits in a horseshoe-shaped pocket where Petaluma Gap winds meet Bennett Valley's volcanic hillsides, and the estate's Merlot was once considered the signature California expression of the variety. The property spans 300 acres of certified sustainable land, 55 planted to Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Noir. Winemaker Marcia Torres Forno farms meticulously and blends with restraint. The lavender fields visible from every tasting room vantage are the other landmark. Every visit is by reservation: the Estate Tasting, the Cellar Selection, or the Picnic & Bottle Service at a reserved table with your own picnic. Dogs are welcome at the picnic tables.
