Pride Mountain Vineyards is a 235-acre estate with a wooden-beamed, modest-sized winery that blends smoothly into its mountainous surroundings and California heritage. The charming and unpretentious tasting room offers guests the opportunity to sample the latest vintages while chatting with the gracious and knowledgeable staff. County regulations require that visitors hold a prior appointment.

Born and raised in the Midwest, Matt Ward followed his dream of making wine across the country to Northern California. Landing his first job in Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley, he quickly rose through the production ranks to become a cellar master. Still hungry for knowledge, Matt pursued graduate studies in Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis.

Upon receiving his Master of Science degree, he accepted a harvest position at Screaming Eagle and spent seven months in the cellar there before heading to New Zealand to lead a team making Bordeaux varieties at Craggy Range. Back in California for harvest 2017, Matt joined Atelier Melka, where he made wines for over 20 client wineries, managing over a hundred ferments each year from vineyards across all of Napa and Sonoma.

As associate winemaker to his mentors, Philippe Melka and Maayan Koschitzky, he produced some of the finest wines to come out of Napa and Sonoma during his five years there, garnering an impressive number of 100-point critical reviews for his many distinct wines. Following this educational and gratifying journey, Matt was ready to find a single-estate winery to call home and the opportunity at Pride Mountain Vineyards presented itself at just the right time.

Matt: “I am thrilled to join the Pride team as winemaker. The vineyards, apart from being absurdly beautiful, produce wines that are lovely pure expressions of the unique site. I look forward to working alongside Steve Pride to continue to elevate, and define, Pride Mountain Vineyards for many years to come.”