In his 10 years of winemaking, Robert can remember only two or three bad batches which he doesn't consider bad when doing three or four a year.
  The home winemakers produce a variety of wines, including chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, petite sirah, chenin blanc, pinot noir and zinfandel from both Sonoma and Amador counties.
  Robert has picked up most of his winemaking knowledge from reading. "We've read a lot. You name it, I've read it...including all the big ones from Davis."
  Ha has also gotten to know some of the upvalley winemakers, and finds them eager to help the weekend enologists. We're learning about the whites now. The reds

we've got knocked,"Robert said.
  Robert met Bill shortly after moving in to the Browns Valley neighborhood. We were crushing at 11 o'clock at night. It was the first and last time I've ever had grapes delivered here, we had just moved into the neighborhood," Robert explained.
  Bill came over, wondering what his new neighbor was up to. They talked until 4 a.m. and became partners. Both have turned portions of their backyards into vineyards, complete with drip irrigation.
  "I didn't know the first thing about wine making," said Bill, "just that I liked it. I've been helping for three years. It sure saves a lot of money at the grocery store," he said with a laugh.
  "We can make premium wine for less than $1 a bottle," Bill continued,

"if you don't count our labor. It's a fun hobby, but there's a lot to it. I just thought you smashed those little devils up, but there's more to it."
  When the crush is in full swing the two families come together to work - 11 people in all. And, of course, the other neighbors come around to pitch in.
  It's a special time, once a year," said Mimi. "It goes for about a month and it's fun. All the neighbors come out to help.
  Chateau Mattina buys grapes from all over the North Coast. Some are first pickings, others are seconds.
  "If you get good quality grapes, you can make good quality wines," reasons Robert. "It's an ego thing, a source of pride."
Back to History Page