Blog
Santa Cruz Maverick: 2020 Madson Wines
I met Cole Thomas at a 2019 tasting event highlighting the next wave of Santa Cruz winemakers. Coincidentally, I was in town that weekend to work on a story about four other young winemakers in the region for the San Francisco Chronicle. I've been following Cole's exciting project, Madson Wines, ever since.
The Santa Cruz Mountains are one of California's top sites for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the western side of the region having a front-row seat to the Pacific's coastal winds and morning fog. Cole says he is always looking for Chardonnay, though that's easier said than done. Most vineyards here are allotted to Pinot Noir and consist of a few acres at most, vying with the mountainous landscape, redwoods, and forest. Regardless, Madson produces compelling, spice-driven Pinot Noirs that remind me of driving through the Santa Cruz Mountains with the windows rolled down.
Cole has built his career here in the Santa Cruz Mountains. After earning a degree in environmental studies at U.C. Santa Cruz, he worked in vegetable farming and landscaping before landing a job at Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard, where he met viticulturist Ken Swegles. They launched Madson together in 2018 and solely farm using organic and regenerative practices.
Shop Madson Wines
Recent Articles
-
Champagne Crescendo: Bérêche Brut Reserve June 30, 2022
-
Maestro of Veneto: Quintarelli Back to 2010 June 29, 2022
-
Pfalz Wizardry: 2020 Koehler-Ruprecht Saumagen June 28, 2022
-
Barbaresco Benchmark: 2017 Produttori del Barbaresco June 27, 2022
-
Côte Rôtie's Tiny Jewel: 2019 Chambeyron-Manin Côte Brune June 24, 2022
Tags
- Abruzzo
- Albarino
- Aligote
- Alsace
- Alto Piemonte
- Amarone
- American Oak
- Anjou
- Antonio Galloni
- Apertif
- Arbois-Pupillin
- Argentina
- Ayl
- Baden
- bairrada
- Bandol
- Barbaresco
- Barolo
- Beaujolais
- Beaune
- Beer
- Belgium
- Bien Nacido
- Bierzo
- biodynamic
- Blanc de Blancs
- blanco
- Bordeaux
- Bordeaux Blend
- Botti
- boudignon
- boulay
- Bourgogne
- Bourgueil
- Bramaterra
- Breze
- Brouilly
- Brunello di Montalcino
- Brut
- Burgundy
- Cabernet Franc
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- California
- Campania
- Canary Islands
- Cannonau
- Carbonic
- Carignan
- carmenere
- Carricante
- cava
- Cellar
- Cerasuolo
- Chablis
- Chambolle-Musigny
- Champagne
- Chardonnay
- Chassagne Montrachet
- chateau
- Chateau Chalon
- Chateauneuf du Pape
- Chateauneuf-du-Pape
- Chavignol
- Chehalem Mountains
- Chenin
- Chenin Blanc
- Chianti Classico
- Chichee
- Chiroubles
- chiusa spagnolo
- Christoph Schaefer
- Cider
- Cinsault
- Clairette
- Clear Lake
- clos
- Clos David
- Clos de la Rue
- Clos Rougeard
- collier
- Collio
- collio goriziano
- Collita Roja
- Columbia Gorge
- contrada
- contrada barbabecchi
- contrada campo RE
- contrada feudo di mezzo
- contrada zottorinoto
- Coombsville
- Cornas
- cornelissen
- Cotat
- Cote d'Or
- Cote de Beaune
- Cote de Brouilly
- cote de nuits
- Cote Rotie
- Côte-Rôtie
- Coteaux de Dijon
- Cotes du Jura
- Cotes du Rhone
- coulee de serrant
- CR
- Crozes-Hermitage
- CS
- cuvee vigne alte
- Dagueneau
- Dauvissat
- Dijon
- Dolcetto
- Domprobst
- Dry
- Dry Riesling
- Dujac
- Ecueil
- Eola-Amity Hills
- Eric Asimov
- Etna
- Extra Brut
- Female Winemaker
- Fiano
- Fleurie
- France
- frank
- Frappato
- Frauenberg
- Freisa
- French Alps
- Friulano
- Friuli
- Galicia
- Gamay
- Gang of Four
- Garnacha
- Gattinara
- Germany
- gevrey chambertin
- Gevrey-Chambertin
- Ghemme
- Gigondas
- giulia
- Glou Glou
- Goldkapsel
- Graach
- gran reserva
- Grand Cru
- Granite
- Grenache
- Grenache Gris
- Grosses Gewachs
- Grower Champagne
- GSM Blend
- guiberteau
- Haro
- haut medoc
- Hermitage
- himmelreich
- Hubacker
- huet
- IGT
- Italy
- joly
- Jon Bonne
- José Pastor
- Jura
- Keller
- Kermit Lynch
- Kimmeridgian Soil
- king
- Klaus Peter Keller
- Kupp
- Lambic
- Langhe
- Languedoc
- Left Bank Bordeaux
- leroy
- Les Minots
- Les Riceys
- Lessona
- loire
- Loire Valley
- Louis/Dressner
- Macabeau
- Macon
- Madrid
- Magma
- malbec
- Malvasia
- margaux
- marl
- Mascarello
- McKinlay
- medoc
- Melon
- Melon de Bourgogne
- Mencia
- Mercurey
- Merlot
- Meursault
- Monopole
- Mont Blanc
- Montagne de Reims
- Montalcino
- montbenault
- Montefalco
- Montepulciano
- montevertine
- Monthelie
- Morey-Saint-Denis
- Morgon
- Mosel
- Mourvedre
- munjebel
- Muscadet
- Nahe
- Napa Valley
- Naples
- Natural Wine
- Neal Martin
- Neal Rosenthal
- Nebbiolo
- nerello
- Nerello Mascalese
- New California
- New York Times
- Northen Rhone
- Northern Rhone
- Nuits-Saint-Georges
- Oak Knoll District
- Old School
- Old Vine
- Old Vines
- Old World
- Oregon
- organic
- PA
- Pardas
- Passetoutgrain
- Patagonia
- Penedes
- pergole torte
- petit verdot
- Pfalz
- pian del ciampolo
- Piedmont
- Pineau d'Aunis
- Pinot Noir
- piuze
- Ploussard
- Pommard
- ponca
- porcaria
- Portugal
- Poulsard
- premier cru
- Provence
- Puligny Montrachet
- Puligny-Montrachet
- Radda
- Rajat Parr
- raul perez
- red
- Regnie
- Reserve
- Rheinhessen
- Rhone
- rias baixas
- Ribeira Sacra
- Riesling
- riserva
- Rose
- rosso
- Rouge
- Rougeard
- Roussillon
- RR
- Ruwer Valley
- Saar
- Sagrantino
- Saint Aubin
- Saint Esteph
- saint joseph
- Sancerre
- Sangiovese
- Sans Soufre
- Santa Barbara County
- Santa Cruz Mountains
- Santa Maria Valley
- Sardinia
- Sashi Moorman
- Saumur
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Savagnin
- Savoie
- sergio manetti
- Serine
- Sicily
- Sierra de Gredos
- Skin Fermented White
- Sonoma
- Sonoma Coast
- Sour Beer
- Southern France
- Southern Rhone
- Spain
- Sparkling
- Spatburgunder
- Sta. Rita Hills
- Stainless Steel
- Summer
- Super Tuscan
- Syrah
- Teroldego
- Terroir
- thibaud
- tocai
- toscana
- Touriga Nacional
- Trebbiano
- Trentino
- trocken
- Tuscany
- Umbria
- UNESCO
- USA
- VA
- vacheron
- Vaillons
- Valpolicella
- Value
- Vatan
- Veneto
- venezia
- Verduno
- Vermentino
- Vermouth
- Verzy
- Vieilles Vignes
- vielles vignes
- village
- Villages
- Vinous
- Viognier
- Volnay
- Vosne-Romanee
- Vouvray
- White
- White Burgundy
- Whole Cluster
- Willamette
- Willamette Valley
- Willi Schaefer
- World Heritage Site
- Xarello
- Zev Rovine
- Zinfandel