Matt grew up on Bainbridge Island, just outside Seattle, and found his way to Walla Walla early, drawn by the energy of a young region and the promise of what it could become. After studying at Lewis & Clark College, earning a degree in business and golf management, and completing coursework in enology and viticulture in Walla Walla, he focused fully on the work that mattered most: learning in the cellar and in the vines. Matt gained early experience with respected producers, including Mike Sharon at L’Ecole No. 41, Fabien Teitgen at Château Smith Haut Lafitte, and consulting winemaker Michel Rolland, before returning home to help establish Reynvaan Family Vineyards.
Matt has led both winemaking and vineyard management since Reynvaan’s beginning, with longtime consulting guidance from Christophe Baron, from the earliest plantings at In The Rocks through the 2019 vintage. He believes Walla Walla Valley is the most compelling place outside the Rhône to grow and make Rhône varietal wines, and his approach is grounded in that conviction.
R|A Family Wines reflects a personal next step: the opportunity to conceive and build something entirely his own. He is doing that alongside the Andrews family, whose shared long view and belief in his vision made J. David Vineyard possible.
Rob grew up in Seattle and built his career as a real estate entrepreneur across the Western United States. Over more than 25 years, he has founded and led multiple ventures, including Northwest Retail Partners and Verus Partners, developing and investing in commercial properties throughout Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, and Montana.
His connection to Walla Walla, and ultimately to wine, grew out of relationships that go back generations. The friendship between his father, J. David, and Mike Reynvaan evolved into Rob’s own close partnership with Matt Reynvaan, and today that connection continues into the next generation with Rob’s twin sons, Jackson and Nicholas, and Matt’s son, Pierce. Rob’s family also carries a multigenerational farming background in Illinois, shaping a deep respect for agriculture and stewardship.
Alongside his real estate work, Rob has spent many years in hospitality, investing in and helping guide several restaurants, including Wild Ginger and El Gaucho, and owning The Hardware Store Restaurant on Vashon Island. Those experiences deepened his appreciation for food, wine, and the guest experience, and eventually led him further into the wine world.
R|A Family Wines brings together those threads – family history, long-standing ties to Walla Walla, and a shared belief in the potential of the J. David Vineyard. Rob splits his time between Vashon Island and Walla Walla with his wife, Janie, and their twin sons.
