Crew Wines is owned and operated by the Gugiere family. After selling R.H. Philips, owners John and his wife Lane along with his brother Karl decided to focus on a new venture – producing approachable, food-friendly wines that showcase a specific terroir or varietal. Founded in 2005, Crew Wines was named in honor of the many staff members who left Phillips to help them start Crew. Crew Wines showcase the terroir of Dunnigan Hills and the California coast. To that end, the team has spent a great deal of time identifying and nurturing only those varietals that adapt well to the region’s warm climate. Occasionally, a small percentage of coastal fruit is included to intensify natural aromas and flavors. Matchbook wines are a tongue in cheek homage to John and his brother’s childhood when they used to get into trouble for lighting matches and setting off rockets.

Tasting notes

Expansive aromas of raspberry truffles, vanilla anda hint of dried black cherries. Juicy flavors of rich red berries and cocoa powder linger on the palate. Medium-body, smooth with moderate tannins.

Technical notes

(54% Tempranillo/34% Syrah/7% Cabernet Sauvignon/5% Graciano). The grapes were gently crushed and fermented in small temperature controlled stainless steel tanks. Specially selected yeast was used to enhance color and flavor extraction. The tanks were pumped over twice a day until nearly dry, then pressed and aged for 26 months in a combination of French, Hungarian and American oak barrels.

Other text

WHY MATCHBOOK? As a farm kid growing up in the late 1950´s and early 1960´s John Giguiere was a confirmed pyromaniac starting various things on fire such as his father´s wheat field. At one point, fearing total ruin from his kids burning him out of the house and farm, his father took them to the city jail for an hour stay to impress upon his brother and him the futility of their fascination with fire. John and his brother answered at a later date by graduating from random fires to the launching of rockets which often blew up at some stage of the its journey resulting in more random fires and a call to the local fire department for help. They eventually grew out of this fascination with the “Matchbook” but still have fond memories of the power they possessed. About the Appellation Matchbook has seven products, all focusing on varietals that perform well in the warm Dunnigan Hills climate. We blend a percentage of coastal fruit to the Dunnigan Hills wines to add structure and intensify flavors.