A Day at the Winery with Matt Duffy

Matt perfecting the "winemaker shot"

After four years as Manager for Bacchus & Venus, Matt Duffy donned a pair of rubber boots in the pursuit of a full-time winemaking career. In only a few years, Matt's own wines are achieving high accolades including Top 100 in the San Francisco Chronicle.

As the Cellar Master at Vinify Winery Collective, he works with craft winemakers (most of whom have day-jobs) to oversee the production of nearly 30 artisan California wines. Rockstar winemakers like Russell Bevan and Thomas Brocker got their starts there  

 

Vinify is a bustling place: grapes arriving, barrels stirred, grapes crushed, wines bottled. With nearly 30 winemakers, Matt Duffy supervises the controlled chaos. In this environment, he crafts his outstanding Pinot Noirs, Syrahs and Rosés. Two of Matt's wines have been featured in the Bacchus & Venus Wine Club.

Master of the "Patio Pounder" 

The Vaughn Duffy Rosé has been wildly popular. It is a light, fruity, easy backyard drinking wine, or as Matt calls it, a "patio pounder". The San Francisco Chronicle's Jon Bonne wrote: 

 

"2012 Vaughn Duffy Sonoma County Rosé: Sara Vaughn and Matt Duffy have returned to form in 2012 with their tiny-production bottling. They've moved from pure Pinot to a mix of saigneed Pinot and pressed Syrah, all fermented in old oak. There's a meaty side, evoking muddled strawberries and steak tartare, with a warmth to the fruit and a mellow gray-salt minerality".

After barrel sampling his 2012 Pinot Noirs, Matt stepped outside to share a vertical of the Vaughn Duffy 2010, 2011 and 2012 Rosé vintages.

Marcy and Lee in 2011

"L.D.'s Barrel was made specifically for his son, Lee Duffy, who was born in 2011. Matt chose his best grapes from the Stori Vineyard of GreenValley, a sub-AVA of the Russian River Valley. The wine spent 15 months aging in a brand new, heavily toasted, Francois Freres French oak barrel. (That's right, only one barrel!) The wine is a stunning expression what Russian River Pinot Noir can be with big heart and soul behind the wheel; Lee is one lucky little guy to have this superstar made for him. 

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Sonoma County Rosé 2012

Pair this light and fruity Rosé with a baseball game on the TV and a backyard barbeque with friends. Its dry, muddled strawberry flavors will delight even those who claim "I don't do Rosé". It will give them a whole new outlook on one of the hottest trends in the wine world today. 
Only 600 cases produced

Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2011

A blend of two vineyards in the Russian River Valley in areas that get a bit higher temperatures than the Sonoma Coast, but is still coastal enough to avoid heat spikes of the warmer areas of Russian River Valley. 

Only 79 cases produced.

Suacci Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2011

There are aromas of dark berries, spice and smoky oak. This Pinot is perfect for substantial meals because of its lean and acid-driven body. It is full of cranberry and strawberry flavors. 

Only 29 cases produced.

"Lee Duffy's Barrel" Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2011

This shining star of a wine is dedicated to Matt's son Lee Duffy. It is quite a different style with a dark-ruby hue and notes of blueberry, dark cherry and pomegranate. The 100% new French oak is nicely integrated into the wine and, as Marcy would say, "tastes expensive".
Only 25 cases produced. 

To order a four pack of Vaughn Duffy Wines simply call us at (415) 331-2001 or email us at kelly@bacchusandvenus.com