Overview

Located in the city of Solvang, CA, Jonata is part of the Ballard Canyon appellation in Santa Ynez Valley. From here, the beautiful winery is dedicated to producing red and white wines using non-traditional blends of many varieties. Jonata concentrates primarily on Cabernet Franc, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Winemaker Matt Dees employs cutting edge techniques to create diverse wines with quality in mind at all times. The vineyard here is dedicated to sustainability and takes a polyface approach to farming. Jonata uses livestock including turkeys, chickens, pigs, goats, and sheep within their farming model. This works to enhance the soil naturally and helps maintain the overall health of the land. They also have a communal garden along with an orchard from where they make their own estate olive oil. In addition, honey is produced using bees that are raised on the farm. Absolutely no pesticides or herbicides touch the land at Jonata.

Winemaker Matt Dees

Jonata’s winemaker Matt Dees went to the University of Vermont and has a degree in soil science. Along with producing the wine at Jonata, Matt has vintages in Napa and Craggy Range in New Zealand. His approach is rooted in the vineyard, where he studies the vines, soil, and the climate to create high-quality wines with complex depth. Matt brings an unconventional philosophy to the process at Jonata and maintains an open mind. He has an exceptional talent for the dimensions of tannins. This focus on the texture and structure of tannins can be experienced through the wines of Jonata.

The Vineyard

The Jonata name, which means “tall oak,” is derived from the Spanish land grant of 1845, Rancho San Carlos de Jonata. This land grant included a big portion of the Santa Ynez Valley. Jonata lies at the center of the grant. Originally, the sandy soil resulted in an intricate development of the vineyard. This was performed by Central Coast Vineyard Care Associates. Jonata was planted with a number of varieties that aren’t normally grown alongside each other. While some were skeptical of the vineyard’s success, the first harvest of 2004 proved the unconventional planting was the right choice. Sangiovese, Bordeaux, and Syrah varieties were all very successful.

Red wines are the highlight of Jonata. Their El Desafio is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. It contains notes of black cassis, green mint, along with dark fruits. It has a creamy, sweet texture with intense tannins. Their El Alma is a blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, and Merlot. This wine has a deep color and contains notes of lavender and black olive. There are also hints of black plum and sweet bramble. This wine will age well in the bottle. The Tierra is made from 100% Sangiovese. It contains notes of red fruit along with cured meat and sage. This is a very reserved wine that has a strong core of raspberry. Fine tannins and strong acidity make this wine unforgettable. These are just three examples of the diverse reds coming out of Jonata.