Matt KettmannContributing Editor
Reviews wines from California.
Matt Kettmann reviews and reports on wines from the Central and South Coasts of California for the magazine. Santa-Barbara based Kettmann is senior editor for the weekly newspaper The Santa Barbara Independent, for which he has covered local news, lifestyle and beverage beats since 1999, and has reported on local and general wine topics for the New York Times, Time Magazine, Smithsonian, Sunset and Wine Spectator. In addition to organizing successful regional wine food and drink events in Santa Barbara and moderating at the annual Paso Robles CAB Collective seminar at the California Wine Festival last fall, in 2009, Kettmann cofounded New Noise Santa Barbara, an annual music conference and festival, and also serves on the board for Notes for Notes, a nonprofit providing free access to musical instruments and recording studios for music-interested youth.
Recent Articles and Reviews
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Yes, Wine Scores Still Matter October 21, 2020 There is a lot of criticism surrounding wine scores, but in an era of misinformation,… -
A Blessing and a Curse: Embracing the Complex Variety of Wines from California’s Santa Barbara County September 4, 2020 Santa Barbara County has a climate unlike any other wine region in the U.S. But… -
From California, 10 Cool-Climate Syrahs with Complexity and Depth August 28, 2020 Spice, game and floral notes lend cool-climate Syrah a profie that can fascinate any wine… -
'A New Niche to Taste and Explore': Alisos Canyon is America's Newest Appellation August 25, 2020 After six years of efforts, California's Alisos Canyon is an official American Viticultural Area, or…
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Vines on the Marycrest 2014 Beyond Belief Extended Tirage Brut Cuvée Sparkling (Paso Robles) A golden pinkish-orange in the glass, this long-aged bubbly shows rosewater, orange juice and marzipan… 89 Points $55
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Le Vigne 2019 Chardonnay (Central Coast) Ripe but clean aromas of poached pear, daffodil, Stargazer lily, coconut and pineapple make for… 89 Points $20
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Plan B 2015 Syrah (Santa Barbara County) Black-plum, purple-flower and cola-spice aromas are strong and extracted on the nose of this bottling… 89 Points $45
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Odonata 2018 Machado Creek Vineyard Sparkling Rosé of Sangiovese (Santa Clara Valley) Clean aromas of light grapefruit peel are fresh and linear on the nose of this… 89 Points $42