Dutcher Crossing Winery represents an authentic and enjoyable experience for wine-lovers who visit the beautiful Dry Creek Valley. The perfect blend of award-winning wines, gorgeous wine country views and warm hospitality await visitors.
Proprietor Debra Mathy can often be found welcoming guests with Dutchess, her Golden Lab, sidekick and official greeter. Winemaker Kerry Damskey’s small-lot, select vineyard approach to winemaking can be learned and enjoyed in the tasting room. In short, Dutcher Crossing offers the timeless qualities of an artisan approach to life.
Debra Mathy
Debra Mathy is an adventurer, and her journey to become the proprietor of Dutcher Crossing Winery is her most memorable quest. “My destiny was to be a business woman and own Dutcher Crossing Winery,” she stated. “It has been a long road, but I’m here, heading happily forward.”
Meet Debra Mathy, Proprietor of Dutcher Crossing Winery. CLICK HERE
Dutchess
The long wait for our winery dog is finally over, Dutchess, a golden lab, arrived in the USA via Air China on October 24th, 2007. Yes, you haven’t read this incorrectly-Air China. Debra adopted Dutchess from Taiwan. The question would be why, and her answer is--Why not? Debra has always intended on learning Taiwanese so what better way then to start off with the commands of “Sit!” and “Let’s go!” Dutchess’s journey ended by two Founding Club members driving her up to Napa from Los Angeles. She stayed with our winery’s friend, Wayne Lackey, from Wine Country Helicopters until her mom came to pick her up. She saw Napa and decided Sonoma was the place to be. We couldn’t agree more.
Sunday, October 28th, 2007 was her debut at the winery. She LOVED the attention and quickly took to her role as official greeter. She was tail-wagging, happy to see everyone. If you don’t see her wandering around with Debra, just knock on the office to say hi. She stays close to mom and sleeps under her desk. Dutchess has one request for visitors--“Anyone have an English/Taiwanese dictionary my mom can borrow?”
Kerry Damskey - Winemaker
Nick Briggs - Associate Winemaker
Nick Briggs’ roots in winemaking run deep, spanning much of California’s varied wine country, and most of his life. His winemaking journey began when he was very young, working in a family friend’s vineyard and winery, doing whatever tasks he could and participating in more and more as he grew in that environment. By age 16 Nick was actively working in the cellar. When he moved south to pursue a degree from California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, he continued making wine as a hobby using local grapes from the nearby Etna Valley. While attending college Nick was offered and accepted an internship at a large winery in Ceres, Ca. This exposed him to winemaking on a much different scale, processing hundreds of tons in a single day. He also learned first-hand performing chemical analyses of wines in both of the onsite laboratories. He completed the internship, and subsequently his Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business (with a minor in Fruit Science) in 2005. Following the lead of Nick and other wine industry oriented students like him, Cal Poly SLO has since developed a strong Enology program.
Nick then looked north to the Napa Valley, the recognized hub of the California wine industry. A temporary harvest position lead to a fulltime gig making some of Napa Valley’s premier Cabernets using grapes from the most sought after vineyards in the world. During his tenure as an Assistant Winemaker in Napa, Nick also learned how to craft wine from many other high quality varietals including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel and Syrah.
Nick joined the Dutcher Crossing team in the spring of 2012. Since then he has worked with Kerry and Debra to make some of the best wines Dutcher Crossing has released. Nick has been able to learn the characteristics of Dutcher Crossing’s many vineyards and their well-established style of processing grapes. Contributing his unique experiences Nick and Kerry have formed a relationship that continues to push the quality of wine forward and simultaneously allows them to explore new techniques and ideas.
Nick can usually be found behind the scenes conducting the day to day processes required to make wine. But he is also a presence out front at events or in the Tasting Room discussing the traits of each wine and getting to know the customers and friends of Dutcher Crossing. Nick, his wife Kelly and their Lab, Remy, have settled in Dry Creek and are thrilled to continue their journey in the friendly environs of Dutcher Crossing!
Antonio Silvia - Director of Export
Antonio Silvia, Founder and Managing Director of Wineteam, Inc., is an entrepreneur and wine expert stemming from generations of Italian winemakers in his native country of Italy. He moved to California in 1989 to San Francisco, Napa Valley and then San Diego. Antonio founded Wineteam, Inc. a partnership of wineries with fifteen years of experience managing a successful international export company of wines all around the world. Antonio is an Export Committee Member of the Wine Institute of California, ZAP member (Zinfandel Advocates and Producers), Family winemakers and several other California wines organizations. He works also with FAS (Foreign Agricultural Service) and the Wine Institute of California participating in wine seminars and trade shows. A resident of Southern California, when Antonio is not traveling, he can be found spending time with his wife and two children
Lorraine Babb - Accountant
Lorraine keeps both sides of her brain in top shape by doing the accounting for Dutcher Crossing and working as a fiction and poetry writer/teacher in her “spare” time. She lives in Forestville with her husband, her toy poodle, Gogie, and two psychotic cats, Jelly and Cosmo.
Kali Hoffert - Wine Club/Shipping Manager
Kali, born and raised in Sonoma and Mendocino Counties, is a recent graduate of Sonoma State University. She has grown up around the industry and has now found a 'behind the scenes' opportunity in our office. If Kali isn't greeting you with a smile at our wine club events, you will hear her on the phone, assisting with member services.
Brittany Galvan - Executive Asst. to Proprietor
A Sonoma County native, Brittany was raised with an appreciation for local wines from a grandfather she accompanied to work each summer at Chalk Hill. This influenced the desire to plant her feet, and cultivate her knowledge of fine wines at a growing competitor like Dutcher Crossing.
Leslie Oberdorfer - Administrative Asst.
Leslie and her family moved to Sonoma County from Juneau, Alaska in 1986 and began her career in the wine industry in 1989. She enjoyed her experience in the tasting room from a hospitality perspective so much, that she eventually transitioned into administration to get a behind-the-scenes impression. Leslie cannot imagine leaving Sonoma County, where the weather is wonderful and the wine is divine.
Matt Coit - Shipping Coordinator
Born and raised in Middletown, CA, Matt got into the wine industry in 2010. Beginning in production, he later moved to the tasting room. In his spare time, he tours as the drummer in his band Manzanita Falls. Matt is excited to continue his career in the wine industry at Dutcher Crossing.
Josh Kennedy - Property/Operations Caretaker
Andres Flores - Caretaking Assistant
Usually an annual addition to the Harvest crushpad crew, Andres has recently relocated to Northern California to become a permanant member of the Dutcher Crossing family. When he isn't immersed in some project at the winery, you can find him at the local salsa club, soccer field or lake fishing with Matt and Nick.
Becky Thompson - Tasting Room Manager
Born and raised right here in Healdsburg, she has grown up surrounded by the wines of Sonoma County. Becky graduated from Chico State and moved back to join us here at Dutcher Crossing. Beginning her work here in events, she is now a full-time addition to the Dutcher Crossing family as the Tasting Room Manager. Not only is she familiar with the area but also the wines specific to Dry Creek Valley.
Ryan Morales - Tasting Room / Customer Relations Associate
Born and raised in Gresham, Oregon but a resident of Sonoma County for the last three years as a student-athlete playing baseball for Sonoma State University, Ryan received his BA with a concentration in Wine Business and Marketing.
Mario Spadoni - Tasting Room Associate
Born and raised in Windsor, Ca, Mario started working with Dutcher Crossing during events and is now a key member of our tasting room staff. He is currently pursuing an education in wine business management at the SRJC. Welcome Mario!
Miranda Hagedorn - Tasting Room/Events Associate
Miranda was born in Portland, Oregon and raised in Healdsburg, Ca. Working in hospitality since graduating Healdsburg High in 2007. Started working summer wine events at Dutcher Crossing, and is now a full time tasting room employee. You can often catch her spending her free time with her mini short haired wiener dog Ziggy.
Krissy Atterholt - Tasting Room Associate
Krissy was born and raised in New Richmond, Wisconsin. She went on to pursue her BA in communication and journalism at the University of St Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. Interested in the wine industry, Krissy recently moved across country to continue learn wine the Dutcher Crossing way!
Megan Ferreira - Tasting Room Associate
Megan was born and raised in the agriculturally rich California Central Valley. She graduated from Fresno State with her BA in Communication. Megan relocated to Sonoma County and joined our team at Dutcher Crossing to begin pursuing her passion for agriculture and the wine industry. She plans to expand her knowledge on the wines of Dry Creek Valley and use her previous marketing experience to help Dutcher Crossing reach new heights.