Matt may be the winemaker but his wife Erin is the boss!
“I inspire him to make great wines!” she says.
Three Wine Company is a lovely vineyard nestled in the Old Sugar Mill in Clarksburg, CA. As I sat down with owner Erin Cline and Direct to Consumer Manager, Matt McCollough over a delightful glass of Three’s Escapade California, they gave me an insider’s perspective on what their lives are like at Three Wine Company.
Pega-Trog-Acorn
Three has a unique label on their Escapade – it’s a piece of original artwork by one of their three daughters, Anna, who drew it when she was a freshman in high school. “It’s called a Pega-Trog-Acorn,” Erin explained. The colorful label combines a pegasus, unicorn, trout, and a frog and gives this fun, light, white wine blend that pairs exceptionally well with spicy foods, just the right feeling of whimsy.
History
Erin and her husband Matt Cline have been in the wine business since the 1980’s when Matt opened Cline winery with his brother Fred. After leaving Cline, Erin and Matt opened their second label – Trinitas, before finally selling it and opening their third label, which they named in honor of their 3 daughters, Three! They have ran Three and produced delicious wines for 10 years. Erin says that they do everything right there to make the wine, bottle it, and sell it. “It’s 90% production and 10% tasting. Although, some days it feels like 99% production.” Erin laughs as she tells us about managing Three Wine Company.
Indulge
While Erin admits that she can’t choose a favorite wine because it changes seasonally (“Trying to pick a favorite would be like asking me to pick a favorite daughter!”) Erin does admit that she can’t resist the sparkling wine and rosé in the Summer. Matt McCollough, Three’s Direct to Consumer Manager, says that his go-to reds are the Live Oak Zinfandel and the Mataro.
Plan your adventure!
Three is a delightful wine company to visit and during your tasting you’ll meet their lighthearted, hard-working staff, I can’t recommend spending an afternoon with Erin Cline and Matt McCollough at Three Wine Company enough. They are a joy to be around and are very knowledgeable about the wines they produce. “Our philosophy has always been ‘the dirt, the wine, and don’t screw it up!’” You can learn more about Erin, Matt, and Three Wine Company on their website – order a bottle or schedule your own tasting experience today!
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