Our History/Family

Mike and Renae Matson combine over 40 years of marriage with 30+ years of co-managing various businesses, the latest being Vino Con Brio and Amorosa Inn and Gardens.  They have three adult children living in Northern California as well.

Together they stay current on wine industry trends by regularly attending classes at the University of California, Davis, and travel extensively enjoying wines from around the world.  Recent destinations have included New Zealand and Australia!  Their most recent trip was to Greece, Croatia, Israel and Egypt in the fall of 2009.

In the vineyard, Mike monitors test plots and experiments with trellising programs and clonal selections. He has a particular interest in bringing unique grape varietals from other countries to Lodi and in promoting Lodi wines.

Renae runs the bed & breakfast, Amorosa Inn and Gardens.  Additionally, she manages all of the weddings and events at Vino Con Brio at Amorosa Vineyard.

Mike and Renae's daughter, Anne, joined the winery staff in 2003.  She graduated from the University of California, Davis in 2001 where she took several viticulture and enology classes.  She is now the general manager of Vino Con Brio, overseeing everything from production to sales.  When she is not on the road spreading the word of Vino Con Brio, she is working at the winery, bed and breakfast, or one of the vineyards.

Mike and Renae's youngest, Kent, temporarily joined the family business by working the harvest season in 2007.  That was enough for him... He now works as a financial advisor at Merrill Lynch in San Francisco.

Amy lives with her husband in the Bay Area and keeps her hands full with two step children and a toddler, Katherine Sophia (Katie), who was born in March 2007.  Amy has also been known to help out with Bay Area deliveries. 

This is truly a family affair!