Matt Dees is the winemaker for three Santa Barbara County wine labels: the luxury brand Jonata, based in Ballard Canyon; The Hilt, based in the Santa Rita Hills; and The Paring, which blends juice not otherwise used for the other two brands. Matt is also a self-professed “plant person,” and he has the resume to prove it. Born in Kansas City, Matt attended the University of Vermont to study soil science, and has worked harvests in New Zealand’s Hawkes Bay and Staglin in Napa. But despite having spent nearly two decades in the Santa Barbara County wine industry, and having devoted his career to winemaking, Matt Dees is no one-trick pony. He can talk about Bach, Grace Slick, and Kansas City barbecue in the same breath, and seems like he might be happy to do so anytime. We talked about his life and career while sharing a table at the new restaurant Highwater in San Luis Obispo.
Website: jonata.com; thehiltestate.com;.theparing.com
Instagram: @jonataestate @thehiltestate @theparing
Alternatives to the modern cannabis gummy with Katherine Knowlton, Santa Barbara
Craft brewing with Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company CEO Jaime Dietenhofer
Feeding the hungry with the Food Bank of San Luis Obispo County: Garret Olson, Brenda, and Claire
Smash burgers and the beer industry with Jack Alger of Mutiny Burger, Paso Robles
Cooking like a lover and freedom from recipes with Kristen Telling, Los Osos
Pushing the boundaries of the wine industry with Gibsey and Josh Beckett of Thibido Winery, Paso Robles
Buying the farm with Ariela Gottschalk and Jeff Pienack of Halcyon Farms, Arroyo Grande
Grocery stores and food retail with Dr. Ricky Volpe of Cal Poly University, SLO
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”The Biggest Little Farm” film, Molly Chester, Apricot Lane Farms, Moorpark, CA
Booker Vineyard winemaker-farmer Eric Jensen, Paso Robles, CA
Food photographer Mary Lagier, San Luis Obispo, CA
SLO Provisions owners Steve Bland + Dwyne Willis, San Luis Obispo, CA
Cannabis and CBD edibles with April Worley of Mender, Atascadero, CA
Julia Child Foundation chair Eric Spivey, Montecito, CA
Harvestly co-owner Lauryn Luescher, San Luis Obispo, CA
Backyard chicken expert Barbara Bullock, San Luis Obispo, CA
Seaweed forager Spencer Marley, Cayucos, CA
Great American Melodrama Cast, Oceano, California
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