Winemaking
In the winery, we believe in minimum intervention with a sharpened focus on capturing the subtle nuances of the vineyards and vintage.
Winemaker Matt Sands crafts our Cabernet Sauvignon and winemaker Maayan Koschitzky crafts our Sauvignon Blanc.
Cabernet Sauvignon - Grapes are harvested between 24-25 Brix, sorted by hand, then with an optical sorting machine before going to tank for a 5-day cold soak, after which fermentation begins. We utilize gravity flow and gentle practices at every stage of the winemaking process. Philosophically, we believe that wines with more time on skins exhibit better tension, texture and length, so we average 35 days of maceration before barreling down into a combination of new and once-used French oak barrels. The wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered after a 21 month élevage.
Sauvignon Blanc – The grapes are harvested around 21-22 Brix, pressed whole-cluster, and fermented and aged in a combination of new and once-used French oak barrels. We practice routine bâtonnage to impart texture and richness, but never rack the wine during a 19 month élevage. Malolactic fermentation is blocked to highlight the true essence of the variety and we bottle the wine unfiltered.
Matthew Sands Cabernet Sauvignon Winemaker
Winemaker Matthew Sands, originally from New Zealand’s Waiheke Island, transitioned to Napa Valley in 2013. After gaining valuable experience at both Screaming Eagle and Bryant Estate, he joined Lithology Winery in 2015. Matt’s minimal intervention philosophy and belief that the finest wines are crafted in the vineyard perfectly align with our vision of producing world-class Cabernet Sauvignon.
Matt brings a wealth of experience from renowned global wineries and a deep understanding of Napa Valley’s unique microclimates. His exceptional winemaking approach combines innovative techniques with a profound respect for the terroir.
Maayan Koschitzky Sauvignon Blanc Winemaker
Born in Israel to a family of farmers, Maayan initially studied engineering before transitioning to winemaking. He gained acumen in Israel before moving to California in 2011, where he held positions at the renowned Screaming Eagle Winery and Dalla Valle Vineyards. This experience led him to work alongside one of the U.S.'s most esteemed winemakers, Philippe Melka. Since joining Atelier Melka in 2014 as Director of Winemaking, Maayan has become a highly sought-after winemaker, known for his work with some of Napa Valley’s most prestigious wineries. Maayan also produces wine under his own label, La Pelle Wines.
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