“This well-made wine is not your typical California fruit bomb. It had interesting aromas and flavors and is drinking very well right now.” -One Wine Per Week review of the Sky Saddle Zinfandel

“I liked the wine so much that I added [another] bottle to my Q and a bottle of the Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. If they are half as good as this, I think I’m in for a treat.” -Wannabe Wino review of Sky Saddle Zinfandel

“The aroma revealed something very sharp initially, with its hint of peat reminding BK of a glass of scotch, a beverage I personally find rather piercing. Later, it took a graceful bow and began dancing under my nose with vanilla, tar, and a brand new leather jacket then waltzed into black pepper, cherry, plum, and finally a greenhouse of sage and other herbs. The palate was nearly as graceful as it stepped from vanilla to cracked pepper to fig and then to an amazing display of chocolate. We both enjoyed this wine thoroughly.” -Behind the Vines review of Sky Saddle Zinfandel

WineQ’s two newest wineries are both organic producers. Is this a coincidence, you ask? Well, kind of. But, WineQ is always on the lookout for small, boutique wineries of distinction, and often times, this means small, passionate operations making limited lots of handmade wines, from grapes grown with minimal pesticides and without a bunch of commercial manipulation! And, if you ask Matthew Wilson, owner and winemaker of Sky Saddle Wines (and also Assistant Winemaker at Deerfield Ranch, another Q winery), organic, sustainable winegrowing and winemaking is as good for the environment as it is for your vino-loving tastebuds.

Matthew believes that there are some very compelling reasons to go organic when you go for a bottle of wine, with the first being better flavor and taste: “Organic farming starts with nourishment of the soil, which eventually leads to the nourishment of the planet and our palates. Perfectly ripened, organically grown grapes offer pure flavor and great fruit intensity.” In addition, Sky Saddle’s philosophy keeps chemicals out of your glass, supports organic farmers and their health, protects groundwater quality and prevents soil erosion. Who knew that being this environmentally friendly could taste so good?

And Sky Saddle wines certainly do taste good — the wines are all single-vineyard designates and are made to capture the essence and purity of the land from which they come. Matthew believes that “…this is where the organic and biodynamic processes really do shine… these farming methods produce superior grapes and this trend is growing. Such farming methods are widely employed in Europe and some of the best, most prestigious names in California winemaking are heeding the call to better, more sustainable farming practices.”

Sky Saddle has only released two vintages, and all of the wines have won awards. For a limited time, WineQ is pleased to offer their 2003 Zinfandel, 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2005 Syrah, after which we plan on snagging more of their offerings when they release their third vintage this Spring! (Be sure to get it while it lasts – Sky Saddle makes less than a thousand cases a year.)

Also for you eco-enthusiasts, Sky Saddle has chosen eco-certified French Oak wood barrels, which originate from environmentally-sustainable managed forests, and water-based paints for their foils. Be sure to check out the lovely photography on their labels – it was taken by none other than Kate Wilson, Matthew’s wife and partner-in-wine!

Watch this video of a Sky Saddle Bottling.

Sky Saddle 2003 Sonoma County Zinfandel $25.99 rich · earthy · black cherry · organic Twin Oaks Vineyards is our favorite! Perched high in the Mayacamas Mountains, the grapes exhibit the brambly character of the volcanic hillside - rich… »More

Sky Saddle 2003 Mendocino County Cabernet Sauvignon $21.99 bold fruit · blackberry · cherry · organic Our Sanel Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is full of bold fruit flavors and aromas of blackberry and cherry - a shining example of a wine with a sense of pl… »More

Sky Saddle 2005 Sonoma County Syrah $25.99 lush · dark fruit · organic · syrah The 2005 Sonoma County Syrah is a lush wine and still the darkest wine we have ever seen - lots of color pigments translate to lots of flavors!… »More