Matanzas Creek Winery in Sonoma Valley was founded in 1977 by Bill and Sandra MacIver. The 69-acre estate quickly became known for Chardonnay, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc, earning excellent reviews for those wines. In 2000 the MacIvers sold the estate to Jess Jackson, owner of Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate and the Artisan & Estates group of boutique wineries. Today the estate makes a wider range of wines. Though still known for Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot, it also produces Syrah and a premium line of wines under the Journey label.
South Coast AVA is an appellation that includes vineyards in five counties in Southern California. Those counties are Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego. The designation was established in 1985. There are about 3,000 vineyard acres within the appellation.
This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.