Matt KettmannWriter at Large
Reviews wines from California.
Matt Kettmann reviews and reports on wines from the Central and South Coasts of California for the magazine. A fifth-generation Californian originally from San Jose, Kettmann is a senior editor for The Santa Barbara Independent, the weekly newspaper/daily website where he started his journalism career in 1999 after graduating from UC-Santa Barbara with an anthropology degree. He's reported on wine and more for for the New York Times, Time Magazine and Wine Spectator, among other publications. He is the author of Vines & Visions: The Winemakers of Santa Barbara County, a 632-page profile of the region, and is currently updating the Southern California chapter for The Oxford Companion to Wine. Kettmann has made small batches of noncommercial wine almost every vintage since 2012, and lives in the Santa Barbara suburbs with his Bordeaux-born wife and their two kids, where they grow one vine of Zinfandel, originally from Santa Cruz Island.
Recent Articles and Reviews
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Three Central Coast California Wine Regions Are Making a Comeback June 29, 2022 Central Coast winemakers are returning to past glories of history and special terroir in three…
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For California’s Surfing Winemakers, It’s All About Balance June 21, 2022 California winemakers weigh in on their somewhat salty lifestyles. Discover what Pacific Coast producers have…
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A Tribute to Josh Jensen, California Pinot Noir Pioneer June 14, 2022 The founder of Calera Winery, Josh Jensen changed the course of California Pinot Noir. Explore…
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Could Truffles Be California Wine Country's Next Luxury Product? June 9, 2022 Truffles have often been a pet project for winemakers, but commercial production of the coveted…

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Vincent Vineyards 2020 Sauvignon Blanc (Los Olivos District) Honey and peach aromas make for a riper spin on Sauvignon Blanc in this bottling.… 89 Points $25
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Rancho Sisquoc 2019 Malbec (Santa Barbara County) Deep aromas of purple fruits, from Concord grape to açai to blueberry sorbet, meet with… 89 Points $32
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Maddalena 2019 Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Paso Robles) Caramelized aromas of stewed blackberry kick off the nose of this bottling. The palate lands… 89 Points $17
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Testarossa 2020 Chardonnay (Sta. Rita Hills) Light aromas of white flowers and lemon glaze are delicate on the nose of this… 89 Points $45
