Windsor wonder twins protect Wine Country by day, distill spirits by night
It’s easy to raise a glass to first responders when the people who make the stuff you’re drinking are first responders themselves.
That’s precisely why you should be drinking vodka and whiskey from Sonoma Brothers Distilling Co.
Like the name suggests, the Windsor-based company is run by brothers Brandon and Chris Matthies. They’re 34-year-old identical twins. And they both have day jobs keeping our community safe; Brandon is an officer with the Santa Rosa Police Department, while Chris is a firefighter with the Santa Rosa Fire Department.
During typical weeks, this means that when the Matthies brothers aren’t slaving over their $100,000 copper still from Germany, they work regular shifts patrolling the area. Over the past five weeks, however, the guys have put in extra hours responding to one of the deadliest wildfires in state history.
“We’re finally getting things back together around here,” Chris said at the distillery’s Bell Road facility earlier this week. “It’s been quite a month.”
For Chris, that month began the day after the Tubbs fire swept through the Fountaingrove neighborhood, jumped the 101, and destroyed Coffey Park. He and his colleagues at Station 1 first were called to protect homes up on the hill. Then they were summoned to protect the Oakmont neighborhood on the east side of town. Eventually, his unit transitioned back to protecting other residents around town, responding to standalone structure fires and the like.
For Brandon, the month was just as intense. He was part of a team that went door-to-door to evacuate those in danger. Afterward, he, too, transitioned to regular community protection.
All of this might seem like a lot to civilians. Chris described it like this: “Just doing our jobs.”
But the Matthies brothers are like us in other ways — namely, they have connections to parts of the community hit hardest by the fires. They had been purchasing grape juice for their brandy from Paradise Ridge Winery, which was obliterated. Chris’ in-laws lived in Wikiup, and their home was destroyed.
Also like many of us, the brothers are giving back. Sonoma Brothers is setting aside $10 per case for fire relief through the end of the year, and, in early January, will split the pot to help firefighters, police officers, and community members in need. In addition, the brothers are considering making a special-label whiskey, from which all proceeds would go directly to fire relief.
“So many of our colleagues in the fire department and the police department lost their homes,” said Chris. “This is the least we can do to pitch in and help them recover.”
As for the business itself, Sonoma Brothers is small but growing steadily, producing 250 cases in 2015, 500 cases in 2016, and roughly 750 cases this year. Best-sellers include the vodka, which retails for $25, gin, which costs $30 a bottle; and bourbon and rye, both of which are $45.
Currently Chris and his brother are the company’s only formal employees, which explains why they only are open for tastings by appointment or on Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The duo hopes to hire more help as the brand increases production next year. Until then, the Matthies boys will continue their double lives — heroes by day, distillers by night. Cheers to them. And thanks.
Matt Villano writes about good people in the community doing great things. Learn more about him at whalehead.com.
