Wine with purpose

An introduction to Washington

Our old-world connection

Washington is located at nearly the same latitude as some of the top French and Italian wine-growing regions. Vines have thrived here for nearly 150 years. Thanks to the long sunny days and cool nights, Washington's diurnal shift creates ideal temperatures for growing grapes.

Washington wine the Blackboard way

Blackboard grapes are sustainably grown in Washington State, a wine region unlike any other in the world. Here, miles of vines stretch across 19 diverse AVAs to produce a broad range of thriving varietals.

Grown in the Columbia Valley

The Columbia Valley is home to 50,000 acres of vines within 19 distinct AVAs. Contrary to the reputation of the Pacific Northwest, the valley only gets six inches of rainfall a year—as much as the Gobi desert. Our long and consistent growing season produces complex, yet vibrant wines of world-class varietals, ranging from Cabernet Sauvignon to Sauvignon Blanc.

The Blackboard vineyards

In 2019, all our wines were sourced from two famed vineyards in Washington State: Conner Lee and Solaksen. The result? Wines that are textured and vibrant, balanced yet complex.

our wines

WHERE WINE GOES FARTHER

Blackboard combines our passion for making wine with our mission to provide greater access to education through donations and partnerships. Each vintage produced provides schools with the tools and resources they need most. With every purchase, our community supports student success at a local, national and international level.

We partner with some of the most celebrated, and sustainable vineyards in Washington State, pushing the boundaries on quality and craftsmanship year over year. With this level of dedication, it’s no surprise that Blackboard wines regularly score 90+ ratings. We’d call them the teacher’s pet of wines, but we don’t want to play favorites.

Who we are

Soren Dietz

Winemaker

Soren discovered his passion for wine early in his career, while working in the hospitality industry. Soren developed his knowledge and enjoyment of wine through his employment at high-end establishments on the East Coast, including Huntley Taverne and Egan & Sons. This subsequently led to a pursuit with the Court of Master Sommeliers, where he earned his Level 1 certificate. In order to immerse himself fully in the wine industry, he took a position with a prestigious wine auction company, where he was exposed to a broader selection of wines from around the world.

The economic downturn of 2008 provided an opportunity to further his education. Soren headed West, to Walla Walla, Washington, to pursue a degree in Viticulture and Enology. Making way into the cellar solidified his excitement for the wine industry. With the combination of hands-on processing and science, Soren had found the perfect fit for himself.

After obtaining his degree, Soren chose to broaden his knowledge of how wine is made by traveling to work harvests around the world. Soren has been a part of winemaking teams from the Willamette Valley, Oregon to McLaren Vale, Australia. He has spent many years in Northern California, in the cellars of Paul Hobbs, La Crema and Kundee, and eventually landed the position as Assistant Winemaker with Porter Bass. There, he was able to focus on single vineyard winemaking, working with Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Zinfandel.

When the 2019 fires hit Sonoma, California, Soren was working at Faust. The devastation caused him to turn his attention back to the Pacific Northwest and to entertain the idea of starting his own winery in Washington State. Matthews Winery saw the potential in Soren Dietz and has been thrilled to utilize his talents in the making of their Blackboard wine brand. Soren enjoys applying his years of experience to the production of high-quality, affordable Washington wines.

Jeff, Alexa, Cliff, Diane, Bryan, Scott, Katy, Alister (6mo)

Owners, The Otis Family

Born and raised in Washington State, the Otis family are grateful to live in such a dynamic wine region. In 2008, the Otis family rescued Matthews Winery from financial difficulties and since then, have worked alongside remarkable winemakers to empower them in the mission to produce the purest expressions of Washington State wines.

In their journey to elevate Matthews, the Otis family has launched new wineries that focus on the delectable wines that can only come from Washington State. These are Tenor, Jaine, Blackboard, and Single Barrel (coming soon in 2022).

where to find our wines

From Washington to you

Blackboard is available in 28 states throughout the US thanks to our distributors (see the Trade and Media section for a complete list). Each bottle of Blackboard you pour and enjoy helps us continue making great wines in order to further donate back into education. Every bottle matters, and every vintage feels like the first day of school.