{{Short description|American winemaker}} {{Citation style|date=February 2025}} {{AI-generated|date=February 2026|reason=since v1 from Feb 2025; note WP:AISIGNS in undue emphasis on significance, promotional tone etc}} '''Steve Matthiasson''' is an American farmer, viticulturist, and winemaker known for his contributions to the low-to-moderate alcohol California wine movement.<ref>Siddle, Richard. "Steve Matthiasson on New Wave & Farm to Table Californian Wines." The Buyer, 16 Jan. 2023, www.the-buyer.net/people/steve-matthiasson-on-new-wave-californian-wines</ref>
Along with his wife, Jill Matthiasson, he co-founded Matthiasson Family Vineyards in Napa Valley, California in 2003.<ref name="auto3">Rance, Hilary. "Matthiasson Wines: Great Wines Start in the Vineyard." California Grown, 3 Feb. 2025, californiagrown.org/blog/matthiasson-wines/</ref> Matthiasson's expertise has made him one of Napa's top viticultural consultants since 1995.<ref>White, Evan M. "SIPs and Bites: Matthiasson Wines." Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science, 5 Dec. 2020, rmi.ucdavis.edu/events/sips-and-bites-matthiasson-wines.</ref> He has worked with several wineries, including Araujo, Dalla Valle, Spottswoode, David Arthur, Chappellet, and Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, and has mentored many winegrowers throughout his career.<ref name="White, Evan M 2020">White, Evan M. "SIPs and Bites: Matthiasson Wines." Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science, 5 Dec. 2020, rmi.ucdavis.edu/events/sips-and-bites-matthiasson-wines</ref>
== Early life and education == Matthiasson was born in Winnipeg, Canada, to two anthropology professors. He earned his Bachelors of Arts in philosophy from Whittier College in 1991,<ref>("Steve Matthiasson '91 Is Redefining California Wine." Whittier College, www.whittier.edu/news/mon-06012015-1106-am/steve-matthiasson-91-redefining-california-wine. Accessed 14 Feb. 2025</ref> before relocating to San Francisco in the early 1990s, where he worked as a bike messenger for three years.<ref name="auto1">Napa Valley Wine. "Makers' Stories: Steve Matthiasson, Matthiasson." Napa Valley Wine, napavalley.wine/makers/vintners/steve-matthiasson--3632491. Accessed 14 Feb. 2025</ref> He later pursued advanced studies at UC Davis, earning his MS in Horticulture with a focus on Pest Management of Trees and Vines in 1996.<ref>Bamforth, Caroline. "Alumni Profile: Steve Matthiasson." BFTV Cluster News, UC Davis, 27 Sept. 2023, news.bftv.ucdavis.edu/viticulture-and-enology/alumni-profile-steve-matthiasson</ref> Matthiasson began his professional career in vineyard management at Four Seasons AG Consulting in Modesto, where he worked with growers to implement practices aimed at reducing pesticide use.<ref name="auto1"/>
In 1999, Matthiasson joined the Lodi-Woodbridge Winegrape Commission, where he collaborated with Dr. Cliff Ohmart to co-author the influential Lodi Winegrower's Workbook: ''A Self-Assessment of Integrated Vineyard Practices.''<ref>Grapegrowers in North America, www.matthiasson.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/VWM.2015Most.Admired.Grapegrowers.pdf. Accessed 15 Feb. 2025.</ref> This work laid the foundation for the Wine Institute's "''Code of Sustainable Winegrowing Practices Self-Assessment Workbook,"'' which has been adopted by over 1,400 vineyards and wineries<ref name="auto">Grapegrowers in North America, www.matthiasson.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/VWM.2015Most.Admired.Grapegrowers.pdf. Accessed 15 Feb. 2025</ref> Following the completion of the workbook, Matthiasson applied his expertise as a research viticulturist at R.H. Phillips Winery in Yolo County.<ref name="auto"/>
In 2002, Steve and his wife, Jill Matthiasson, relocated to Napa Valley, where he still currently resides. In 2003, they founded their wine brand in Napa, acquired their first vineyard in 2006, and purchased their winery in 2017.<ref name="auto1"/> In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons, skateboarding, and listening to punk rock bands such as Minutemen, Black Flag, Minor Threat, and Dead Kennedys.<ref>"Steve Matthiasson: Napa Valley Winemaker: Ashes & Diamonds." Napa Valley Winemaker | Ashes & Diamonds, ashesdiamonds.com/about/people/steve-matthiasson. Accessed 14 Feb. 2025</ref>
== Wines == Matthiasson emphasises organic and regenerative farming, along with a farm-to-table approach.<ref>Siddle, Richard. "Steve Matthiasson on New Wave & Farm to Table Californian Wines." The Buyer, 16 Jan. 2023,</ref><ref name="auto3"/> He has played a significant role in fostering a more diverse and sustainable wine culture in the region.<ref>Asimov, Eric. "How the Most Delicious Wines Stay True to Themselves." The New York Times, The New York Times, 13 Mar. 2023.</ref> Ultimately, his emphasis on lower temperature-controlled fermentation has set new standards for the industry.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}
He produces a diverse range of wines that are both restrained and classically balanced, utilizing both familiar and lesser-known grape varieties. While he specializes in widely recognized varieties such as Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, Matthiasson also works with grapes that are less commonly found in Napa Valley, including Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso, Cabernet Franc, Ribolla Gialla, Merlot, Tocai Friulano, Petit Verdot, and Schioppettino.<ref name="auto2">"Matthiasson Tendu Red Wine Dunnigan Hills 2021." SoCalization Inc, www.socalization.com/en/products/matthiasson-tendu-red-wine-dunnigan-hills-2021?srsltid=AfmBOoqTE9QjwxwcWjWYso3tfXxwzzvs0tJ4kv5HX1LLH2_UhJTM6Tij. Accessed 14 Feb. 2025</ref> The white wines produced by Matthiasson are influenced by the styles of northern Italy's Friuli region, while his red wines are predominantly crafted with the Bordeaux tradition.<ref name="auto2"/>
Matthiasson's wine has been featured in ''The New York Times'',<ref>"The Wrath of Grapes." The New York Times, The New York Times, 28 May 2015, www.nytimes.com/2015/05/31/magazine/the-wrath-of-grapes.html?smprod=nytcore-ipad&smid=nytcore-ipad-share&_r=0</ref> ''The Wall Street Journal'', the ''San Francisco Chronicle'', ''Wine Enthusiast Magazine'', ''Bon Appétit Magazine'', ''In-Style Magazine'', ''Decanter Magazine'', ''Food & Wine Magazine'', and ''The Wine Spectator''.<ref name="White, Evan M 2020"/>
== Achievements == Matthiasson has been named Winemaker of the Year by both ''Food and Wine Magazine'' and the ''San Francisco Chronicle'', and is a co-author of the ''California Code of Sustainable Winegrowing.''<ref>"Steve Matthiasson." Charleston Wine + Food, 14 Aug. 2019, charlestonwineandfood.com/participants/steve-matthiasson/</ref> He has been nominated six times for the James Beard Award for Outstanding Wine, Spirits, or Beer Professional from 2014 to 2019.<ref>"Press Inquiries." James Beard Foundation, www.jamesbeard.org/awards/search?categories%5BRestaurant%2B%26%2BChef%5D=1&year=&keyword=Matthiasson. Accessed 14 Feb. 2025</ref>
== Other == Matthiasson has held various leadership roles, including serving as the past President of the Association of Applied Integrated Pest Management Ecologists and the former Chair of the Viticulture Committee for the California Enological Research Association. Additionally, he has been a Director of the Napa County Farm Bureau, a Board Member of the Applied Ecologists Foundation, and a member of the review committee for the American Vineyard Foundation.<ref>"Matthiasson Wines: Napa Valley Wineries: Wine Folly." Matthiasson Wines | Napa Valley Wineries | Wine Folly, napa.guides.winefolly.com/wineries/matthiasson-wines/. Accessed 14 Feb. 2025.</ref>
He serves as co-chair of the 280 Project, a six-month program providing BIPOC students with opportunities to gain hands-on experience in winemaking.<ref>"Around the Table." The Brownell Chalet, www.brownellchalet.com/around-the-table-with-robert-sinskey-at-the-brownell-chalet/, Accessed 14 Feb. 2025</ref><ref>Asimov, Eric. "How a Tiny Vineyard along an Interstate May Reshape the Wine Industry." The New York Times, The New York Times, 1 Nov. 2024, www.nytimes.com/2024/11/01/dining/drinks/project-two-eighty-san-francisco-wine-industry.html.</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Matthiasson, Steve}} Category:American winemakers Category:Living people Category:American viticulturists Category:People from Winnipeg Category:University of California, Davis alumni Category:Year of birth missing (living people)