2017 · El Desafio de Jonata

Jonata is an estate producer in Ballard Canyon, Santa Ynez Valley, established in 1998 and owned by Stan Kroenke, with Ann Kroenke also cited and some sources mentioning Charles Banks. Since the first vintage in 2004, winemaker Matt Dees has led a vineyard-first program alongside vineyard manager Ruben Solorzano and associate winemaker Drew Pickering. The estate is certified organic and farms with a strong biodiversity focus, using integrated livestock, mechanical weed control, gardens, orchards, olive trees and bees, while avoiding synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Jonata is known for estate-grown, varietal-dominant blends built around Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Syrah, with an unconventional approach shaped by site, block selection and vintage rather than strict varietal formulas.