Wine of the Week! 02/06/24

Matthiasson Tendu Vermentino

Normally $25.99 / Now on Sale for $17.96
100% Vermentino (Dunnigan Hills, Napa Valley)

Matthiasson Winery is the small, independent, sustainable project of husband and wife Steve and Jill Klein Matthiasson.

• A gardener and homebrewer since college, Steve worked for a small sustainable agricultural firm and even co-wrote a book on sustainable vineyard practices. While farming his own vineyard, he teaches organic agriculture at UC Davis.

• Jill took her academic background in botany, ancient Israeli farming techniques, and soil health (you know, as one has) and brought it into a career of networking sustainable farmers and teaching them about direct sales and CSAs. When not running the Matthiasson business, she teaches farming at the local grade school.

So both bring theory turned application to their sustainable, organically farmed vineyard.

They started their Tendu line in 2012 with the aim of producing affordable natural wines. (“Tendu” is French for “taut,” “stretched,” or “extended,” hence the ballet positions of the same name.) This white is 100% organic Vermentino left unfined and unfiltered. It’s crisp and zesty with a little lime-like edge but balanced by a nice minerality that grounds it.

The Matthiassons go through phases when they offer the Tendu wines and when they don’t. We’re about to go through another Tendu dry spell, so this offering will be the last of this delicious white for the foreseeable future. Get it while we have it!