Wine, Passion, and Purpose: How Debra Mathy is Shaping Dutcher Crossing
One of Sonoma County’s top visionaries shares her story, how she sees the wine industry, and what’s next for this Geyserville gem
As many dreamers do, Debra Mathy had a longtime vision to own a winery. Originally from Wisconsin, she had traveled to various wine regions and felt the magnetic pull of a life in wine. For many, these aspirations remain just that – a dream. For Mathy, it became a reality in 2007 when she purchased Dutcher Crossing Winery in the heart of Sonoma’s Dry Creek Valley, becoming the first sole-woman-owned winery in Sonoma.
Since taking over in 2007, Debra has brought a dynamic energy and fierce entrepreneurial spirit to the winery, growing the business from five wines produced from 35 acres of vineyards to what it is today – a portfolio of more than 30 wines from some of the most prestigious appellations throughout Northern California, including 75 acres of estate-designated vineyards.
The Vintner Project caught up with Debra recently to learn firsthand about her journey in the wine industry, her vision for the future of Dutcher Crossing, and how she has created a culture of connection and storytelling through wine. From her early days as an educator to her current role as an innovative winery owner, Debra’s story is one of passion, homage, and a deep love for crafting wines that reflect the diversity of California’s wine regions. Join us as we chat about her background and vision for the winery, her thoughts on where the wine industry is headed, and what’s next for Dutcher Crossing.
The Vintner Project: Tell us about your journey at Dutcher Crossing and how it led to your collaboration with your winemaker, Nick Briggs.
Debra Mathy: When my father was diagnosed with stage 4 Melanoma, I quickly realized that life was short and I decided not to wait for retirement to pursue my winery dream. With my father by my side and my family’s encouragement, we embarked on the winery pursuit. Sadly, he passed away in late 2006, just three months before the dream was realized in March 2007. Our penny farthing bike is the last gift from my father and the winery’s logo, representing our journey into wine country together.
When I took over the winery, we had 35 acres and produced just five wines. Over the years, I’ve worked hard to nurture a talented winemaking team, expand our operations, and build strong relationships within our winegrower and broader communities. Today, we own 75 acres of estate vineyards and offer over 30 wines, including 12 varietals sourced from esteemed vineyards across Sonoma and Napa.
Our founding winemaker, Kerry Damskey, set out to find the next assistant winemaker, and Nick Briggs was one of the final two candidates. After the interview, Nick mentioned that he had brought clothes and work boots, expressing his willingness to work until we figured out our next steps. That comment made a lasting impression on us and marked the beginning of a great relationship. Kerry took Nick under his wing, mentoring him as he prepared to become our next head winemaker.
My collaboration with Nick, our current winemaker, is a crucial part of Dutcher Crossing’s success. We share a commitment to producing exceptional wines, and Nick’s philosophy emphasizes small-lot, handcrafted production. His talent and dedication have been instrumental in elevating our winemaking program and expanding our portfolio.
TVP: What’s special about Dutcher Crossing?
DM: The property itself is very special. We’re located at the confluence, or crossing, of Dry Creek and Dutcher Creek, hence the name “Dutcher Crossing.” The views in this part of the valley are incredible – it’s a great place to get to call your “office.”
When it comes to our wines and winemaking, I think we also have somewhat of a unique approach. We produce plenty of wines using fruit from our own estate vineyards and also work with quite a few vineyard partners across different AVAs. This has allowed us to build an incredibly diverse portfolio that currently includes 31 wines and 12 varietals from seven AVAs.
TVP: Why Geyserville?
DM: Geyserville and Dutcher Crossing felt like home the minute I set foot here. For starters, it’s a great community and place to grow grapes! The terroir here lends itself well to Zinfandel, of course, and other grape varieties we grow like Syrah, Petite Sirah, and Cabernet Sauvignon. We’re also centrally located, with easy access to sourcing from vineyards in nearby Russian River Valley, Alexander Valley, and Rockpile.
TVP: What is your take on the current wine market and why younger generations appear less interested in wine?
DM: At Dutcher Crossing, we prioritize offering a diverse range of wines and onsite experiences that appeal to consumers of all ages. While I find that younger generations are often willing to spend significantly on beverages and experiences, they have a vast array of options at their fingertips. Consequently, their spending is distributed across various possibilities they’re eager to explore.
The younger generation tends to be more inclined to enjoy, discover, and learn about a variety of beverages beyond just wine, embracing all available options. They are also more health-conscious and environmentally aware, often choosing to support brands that evolve with their values. This includes seeking out brands with recyclable packaging and products, as they consider the impact on future generations. We consistently keep these trends and evolving values at the forefront of our minds when developing our wine program and experiences at Dutcher Crossing.
TVP: There’s a whole movement in the industry aimed at combating the negative health claims about wine right now, with everyone returning to our “why” to remind us of the beauty of wine. What is your “why” for wine?
DM: My personal “why” when it comes to wine is rooted in the memories I create with friends and family over meals, travel, and celebrations. There is something special about being in the vineyard, watching a new vintage spring to life, nurturing the fruit throughout the year, and then turning it over to our winemaking team to express the vineyard, vintage, and varietal.
There’s a certain romance in the process from vineyard to bottle that sweeps me away. The best part of my “why” is the time spent with my nieces and nephews—drinking wine and making memories together for no special reason at all.
TVP: You have a wine named after your father. Tell us about that.
DM: We have been crafting CFM Tribute wines since the 2007 vintage. Our latest wines are CFM Cabernet Sauvignon Blanc and CFM Cabernet Sauvignon. Sadly, he passed away from melanoma just before the winery was purchased. All Tribute wine proceeds go to the Melanoma Research in his honor.
Family is really important to me, and I always say that our guests are an extension of our family at Dutcher Crossing. We also have the Kupferschmid White Wine and Kupferschmid Red Wine, named after my mother Leah Kupferschmid, Brothers’ Reserve Zinfandel, Siblings Reserve Petite Sirah, and a Brut Rosé named after my great-niece, Grace.
TVP: What’s the tasting experience like at Dutcher Crossing?
DM: It was my vision to create a welcoming winery environment with warm hospitality and world-class wines. Visitors can enjoy a variety of tasting experiences, from casual bar tastings priced at just $20 to elevated seasonal pairings. Visitors can also bring a picnic to enjoy in the vineyards and play a game on our petanque court. During the fall and winter seasons, the fireplace in the tasting room is an extra cozy spot. Walk-ins and dogs are welcome at Dutcher Crossing, where guests are greeted not only by stunning views of the Dry Creek Valley but also by a warm “hello” from my Labrador, Lady.
TVP: Any new projects in the works?
DM: Yes, quite a few actually! We’re currently working on a Pinot Noir, an Oregon Pinot Noir (our first venture outside California), a White Port, and a chillable red wine. We’re also in the process of building a new cellar with a focus on innovation. We added new vessels, concrete eggs, with the intention of creating an “experimental” space where our winemaker Nick can test out new and interesting winemaking techniques.
Extending my passion for making Cabernet Sauvignon, Nick and I have launched Namo, a high-end Napa Cabernet brand we’re making in collaboration with Philippe Melka. I’ve always been passionate about Napa Cab, and it’s been very rewarding to see this project we’re all so passionate about come to fruition over the last few years.
TVP: Where do you feel the wine industry in general is headed? What are you excited about?
DM: Despite some of the current concerns, I think the industry is generally heading in a positive direction. There are so many incredible producers and winemakers today that are inspiring to watch. It’s made us feel more empowered to experiment and push the envelope with our winemaking approach than we would have 10 or 15 years ago.
For Dutcher Crossing, remaining a direct-to-consumer brand has allowed us a lot of flexibility when it comes to what types of wines we can make and also allowed us to build a unique connection with our customers and wine club members. We are free to focus on making wines for them.
Dutcher Crossing is turning 20 years old next year, which is also something we’re looking forward to. We’re already planning our celebrations and special anniversary releases, which I can’t wait to share.