Fernwood Cellars – Redwood Retreat to Boutique Winery
Good wine is always a personal process. Each winemaker is responsible for his or her unique flavor, style, and presentation of the wine they create. Making a glass of good wine isn’t just about putting the right ingredients together for the right amount of time, it’s a personal expression of a winemakers process and personality.
In making great wine there can be no compromises. For us, this holds true in both ingredients and processes. Our approach has always been about staying in control at every step to produce a product that is exceptional at every sip.
Matt Oetinger, owner
For Matt Oetinger and his family, this couldn’t be more true. Fernwood Cellars is on the land of Matt’s great-great-great-great grandparents, making him the 5th generation of his family to run a successful business on the wooded hillside property. Matt is the owner and head winemaker for Fernwood Cellars and has been creating delicious wine since the Vineyards first harvest in 1995.
The wine from Fernwood Cellars is just as rich as its full-bodied history.
In 1863 Matt’s ancestors moved to this land and built the ‘Redwood Retreat’. This spacious retreat had 20 breathtaking Victorian-style rooms. On the grounds, guests could enjoy tennis courts, bocce ball, and the first outdoor swimming pool in Santa Clara County. Wandering over the sunlit grounds you could find vineyards, apple and prune orchards, and a large row crop vegetable garden. This garden–for many years–supplied both the family and hotel guests.
After many years and a series of restored buildings later, Matt Oetinger built Fernwood Cellars on the Redwood Retreat grounds. In 1999 they began producing the high-quality wine they still provide their customers today.
Quality isn’t just a catch-phrase at Fernwood Cellars, it’s a way of life.
Fernwood Cellars only produces wine from grapes they grow themselves. While this might not seem noteworthy, this puts them in roughly 7% of the winemaking industry. Most wineries purchase their fruit from an independent grower. This doesn’t allow for the same confidence Matt and his family have in their growing process.
They are also very passionate about using the highest quality oak barrels for aging. Many wineries will use oak alternatives such as wood chips or tea bags to enhance the flavors of their wines, but not Fernwood Cellars. When pressed on why, Fernwood Cellars responds, “This isn’t the cheapest route, but in our opinion, it is the only route that makes sense for a dependable brand for decades.”
Wine Produced by the finest standards from grapes that we grow. Experience signature handcrafted varietal wines. Quality is Timeless.
Fernwood Cellars
Wine Club
Like all good Vineyards, they have an enticing wine club with all the right benefits. Benefits include quarterly delivery of a case of great wine, 20% off all Fernwood Cellars’ wines, a waived wine tasting fee, and luxurious annual events such as their Lobster Boil and Dinner at the Vineyard.
To join their wine club, all you have to do is visit their website and fill out their member form.
Fernwood Cellars will help you build a vineyard of your own.
As a part of their passion for wine, they will also help wine enthusiasts begin their very own backyard Vineyard. From installation to production to storage to bottling, Fernwood Cellars will offer as much or as little support as you need. They believe home vineyards are a great way to get wine enthusiasts interested in the winemaking process and love to give their clients local wine that is literally made right in their backyard!
