John and Karl Giguiere are 5th generation farmers who know the region’s soil, climate and true potential of the land. In 1981 they pioneered grape growing in this region when they planted their very first vineyard. By 1993 they’d succeeded in making the Dunnigan Hills a nationally recognized American appellation. The family’s knowledge of the land combined with their curiosity and drive to innovate defines their determination to constantly improve the viticulture and winemaking of the region. Today the family-owned vineyard specializes in the varietals that thrive in the warm Dunnigan Hills climate, while the winery has expanded its portfolio to include wine made from grapes grown in other regions. 

The Matchbook offerings include the traditional, estate bottled Chardonnay and Cabernet along with other varietals that flourish in their region: Tempranillo, Petite Sirah, Verdejo and Petit Verdot. The Mossback brand features wines from grapes grown in the cool Russian River Valley; the Chasing Venus brand is dedicated to New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. The wines always showcase the beautiful fruit, with oak flavors as a supporting element. The whites are pure, 100% varietal, while the reds are blended in the spirit of complexity and character.

2019 Tinto Rey Estate Bottled Dunnigan Hills Rose - 93 points, 2020 Sommeliers Choice Awards

2019 Mossback Russian River Valley Pinot Noir - 90 points, 2020 Sommeliers Choice Awards

2018 Mossback Russian River Valley Chardonnay 89 points, 2020 Sommeliers Choice Awards

2018 Tinto Rey Estate Bottled Dunnigan Hills Verdejo, 93 points, 2020 Sommeliers Choice Awards

2018 Matchbook Estate Bottled Dunnigan Hills Cabernet Sauvignon, 87 points, 2020 Sommeliers Choice Awards

2015 Tinto Rey Estate Bottled Dunnigan Hills Tempranillo,  87 points, 2020 Sommeliers Choice Awards

2018 Matchbook The Arsonist Dunnigan Hills Chardonnay, 86 points, 2020 Sommeliers Choice Awards

2018 Matchbook Estate Bottled Dunnigan Hills Petite Sirah, 85 points, 2020 Sommeliers Choice Awards

2016 Tinto Rey Estate Bottled Dunnigan Hills Super Tinto Red Blend, 84 points, 2020 Sommeliers Choice Awards

2018 Matchbook Estate Bottled Dunnigan Hills Chardonnay, 83 points, 2020 Sommeliers Choice Awards

2019 Chasing Venus Marlborough New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, 83 points, 2020 Sommeliers Choice Awards

2017 Matchbook Estate Bottled Dunnigan Hills Petit Verdot, 79 points, 2020 Sommeliers Choice Awards

Matchbook celebrates the varietals that thrive out in the warm Dunnigan Hills climate. Our wines are always fruit first, with oak flavors a supporting element. The whites are pure, 100% varietal, while the reds are blended in the spirit of complexity and character.

As farm kids growing up in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, the Giguiere brothers were veritable pyromaniacs, setting numerous things on fire—including the family wheat fields. Fearing total ruin of house and farm, the boys’ father one day left them at the city jail for an hour’s “stay” to impress upon them the dangers of their fascination with fire. But it was to no avail. They soon graduated to launching rockets, which resulted in more uncontrolled blazes and calls to the fire department. Over time, the Giguiere boys outgrew their fascination with the flame. But even today they look at the Matchbook brand with fond memories of the fires they once stoked.

The goal of the Sommeliers Choice Awards is simple: to provide on-premise buyers and sommeliers a valuable benchmark for understanding which wines would make a compelling addition to a wine list.

On-premise wine buyers and sommeliers who are looking for the best wines that would make a thrilling addition to their wine list must check out the winning wines of 2020 Sommeliers Choice Awards.

The wines are judged in five categories: food parability, typicity, quality, value, and packaging. The judges ask: would I stock this wine, and is it good enough for customers to order a second glass? Wines are graded out of 100, with only those above 95 points winning the coveted Double Gold award. There are also category awards, with best in show given to white, red, sparkling, rose, and an overall winner every year, by the bottle and by the glass – reflecting how wine is presented in restaurants.