Winemaker Notes
#27 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2025
Crisp, bright, and vivacious! The Chenin Blanc opens with vibrant aromas of kiwi and fresh-cut melon, followed by key lime zest and white flowers. Hints of honeysuckle, jasmine, white peach, and nectarine add depth of flavor. The Viognier lends a luscious mouthfeel with exotic notes of lychee and orange blossom, while the Chenin Blanc provides structure and a signature citrus character. The palate is clean and crisp, balancing refreshing acidity with gentle sweetness for a harmonious finish—perfect on its own or paired with a variety of dishes.
Blend: 80% Chenin Blanc, 20% Viognier
Professional Ratings
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The Somm Journal
Evolving to become one of the winery’s most iconic white blends over its 30-year run, this wine (nicknamed CBV) was Gary and Nancy Andrus’ vision and features a unique combination of varieties, namely Chenin Blanc from Clarksburg and Viognier from Lodi. Brisk and salty notes of vanilla meringue and key lime appear alongside macadamia and a hint of spice.
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James Suckling
Aromas of sliced pears, yellow apples, nectarines and white flowers. The palate is medium-bodied with bright acidity and a salty, crunchy finish. Simple and generous.
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Wine Spectator
Offers a lovely mix of ripe peach, apricot and orange blossom notes that are effusive, juicy and decidedly drinkable on a plump frame. Details of ripe pear, melon and dried ginger linger on the finish effortlessly alongside a hint of white tea.
Founded in 1978, Pine Ridge Vineyards sits in the heart of the Stags Leap District of Napa Valley, tucked beneath of ridge of pines that speak to the dramatic geologic origins of our home and unique soils. For over 40 years the winery has become a pioneer farming and vinifying Bordeaux grapes with a focus on Cabernet Sauvignon. Today, Pine Ridge Vineyards farms a collection of 160 acres of Napa Green sustainably certified estate vineyards across Oakville, Rutherford, Howell Mountain and Carneros, including 47 acres in the Stags Leap District.
The winery’s Chenin Blanc + Viognier bottling started out as an experimental blend over twenty-five years ago and is now one of the most beloved and highly acclaimed white wines available. Original and unique, this fresh white wine blend is crafted to be fresh, fruity and easy to pair and enjoy. The wine has also inspired a Pine Ridge Sparkling wine also made with Chenin Blanc and a splash of Viognier.
With hundreds of white grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended white wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used in white wine blends, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a variety that creates a soft and full-bodied white wine blend, like Chardonnay, would do well combined with one that is more fragrant and naturally high in acidity. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
From Alabama to Wyoming, each of the fifty United States produces wine—with varying degrees of success. Many of the colder northeastern states focus primarily on American or French-American hybrid varieties like Concord and Vidal, while Muscadine is the grape species of the warm, humid southeast. In Alaska, grapes are grown indoors in greenhouses; other states specialize in fruit wines, like the pineapple wine of Hawaii. New York and Virginia have thriving wine industries, and New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Michigan, Idaho, and Ohio are all worth keeping an eye on.