Sandlands Mataro Contra Costa County

Sandlands is the personal project of Tegan Passalacqua. The line-up encompasses the forgotten classic California varieties, primarily grown in decomposed granite (sand), from regions and vineyards that have been farmed for many generations but have remained the outliers of California viticulture. Primarily head-trained, dry-farmed and own rooted, the vineyards we work with harken back to California’s roots of exploration, wonder, and hard work. 

The 2024 Mataro Contra Costa County is produced from 120 year-old Mourvedre grown in the sandy soils of the Oakley Road Vineyard. These gnarly old vines are low-yielding, and the grapes that come off of these vines are packed with character and flavor. 

Antonio Gallonio of Vinous Media rated this one 97 points. "The 2024 Mataro (Contra Costa County), from vines planted in 1922, is one of the most profound, riveting wines I have tasted from Sandlands. A huge, vertical wine, the 2024 impresses with its energy and power. Black cherry fruit, gravel, incense, tobacco and spice infuse the palate with tremendous flavor and textural intensity. All of this fruit is from Oakley Road Vineyard. What a wine!"