Slouch Hat Wines
Get the Dirt from owner/winemaker Matt Fowler
“The brand is about the gratification we receive in those moments of relaxation after a day of hard work. The slouch hat is our symbol for hard work, but also play/relaxation.”
What was your first vintage year? 2022
How many cases do you make per vintage? 750 for 2022 and 1500 for 2023
Do you have a Tasting Room? Not at this time.
Who is your winemaker? I am a one man show.
What wine made you want to become a winemaker/start your own winery?
It was more of a feeling. I fell in love with wine while stationed in Quantico, VA in the Marine Corps. Escaping to the serenity of the vineyards and being at peace is what got me into wine. When I got out of the Marines, I ended up deferring my full ride to law school to work at a winery and learn more then I kept deferring until finally it was too late, and I was in the wine industry for good. During my time with Total Wine, I discovered the S. Rhone Valley and I realized I found the varietals I loved the most. From there I dove into American Rhone varietals and ultimately ended up in Santa Barbara County to make my own.
What varietals do you work with?
I love to make American Rhone blends, but I also love Sauvignon Blanc, so for now those are the two wines I make. We have a Pinot Noir on the way, because how can you be this close to the Sta. Rita Hills and not make a Pinot?
What vineyards do you source from?
I source from vineyards throughout the Santa Ynez Valley. The Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah for the 2022 vintages came from Tierra Alta in Ballard Canyon. The Mourvèdre came from Camp 4 and the Grenache from Rock Hollow.
What type of oak treatment do you use?
For 2022 we used all neutral oak even for the Sauvignon Blanc. I wanted to make a fresher GSM that allowed the fruit to shine rather than be masked by secondary characteristics. For the Sauvignon Blanc I chose large format neutral oak barrels to make a more rounded wine with restrained acidity. I’ve added a small percentage of new oak for the 2023 reds.
What do you love about your winemaking region? What makes it different special?
Aside from being gorgeous, the Santa Ynez Valley provides me the opportunity to make a wide range of wines really well due to the proximity to the ocean and the West to East running mountain ranges. Rather than having to focus solely on cool weather or warm weather varietals I can move west or east a couple miles and get both. I can make Pinot Noir from the west, Rhone Varietals from the center, and Sauvignon Blanc from the east. How can you beat that?
What’s the story behind your winery name / label?
The brand is about the gratification we receive in those moments of relaxation after a day of hard work. The slouch hat is our symbol for hard work, but also play/relaxation.
The idea came from my discovery of wine while in the USMC. I would stow away my boonie cover (slouch hat) and go from a very structured, disciplined military environment to the peacefulness of the vineyards.
The names of the individual wines tie the story together by using military commands that evoke a sense of relaxation.
What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about the wine business before you started your own winery?
It’s more that I wish I would’ve listened when those in the industry talk about the difficulties/frustrations with wholesale.
Most importantly, what's so great about being small? What can you do as a small winemaker, that wouldn't be possible for larger wineries?
Being small allows us to find our identity and strengths and adapt easily if necessary.
How do you view the future in the wine industry for small-lot winemakers?
I think as the larger wineries continue to consolidate and become soulless the consumer will crave fun and unique brands with real people and cool stories behind them. However, I also think barriers continue to be erected that prevent the consumer from ever finding small producers, especially outside of wine regions, which is why these events are so important!
If you could choose another wine region to work in what would it be?
Probably the southern Rhone.
For more information about Slouch Hat Wines, please visit their website or follow them on Instagram.