Winemaker Notes
An elegant Chardonnay with aromas of lemon curd, star fruit, fresh cut peach and wet stone. Complemented by satsuma mandarins and a touch of hazelnut in the focused mid-palate and the refreshing cool climate acidity of this estate vineyard.
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
Aromas: Lemon blossom, straw, vanilla wafer The marine layer that runs from west to east across the Sta. Rita Hills is referred to as "sea smoke." This estate, known for its dynamic Pinot Noirs, also excels in Chardonnay craftmanship. Winemaker Don Schroeder harvests at a lower Brix and reduces the amount of French oak, ensuring purity in this prestigious white. It's glacial-like in its mouthfeel, with high notes of iced lemon; white peach; and delicate, creamy marzipan enveloping the tongue.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
The precisely rendered 2022 Sea Smoke Estate Vineyard Chardonnay captures the transparency of its Sta. Rita Hills terroir reveals layered aromas of sunbaked stones, crushed chalk, and dried citrus peel. Its tension and mineral drive make it a natural partner for freshly steamed Dungeness crab. (Tasted: June 18, 2025, San Francisco, CA)
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
A superior source of California Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills is the coolest, westernmost sub-region of the larger Santa Ynez Valley appellation within Santa Barbara County. This relatively new AVA is unquestionably one to keep an eye on.
The climate of Sta. Rita Hills is a natural match for Chardonnay and Pinot noir, thanks to the crisp ocean breezes and well-drained, limestone-rich calcareous soil. Here, grapes ripen just enough, while retaining brisk acidity and harmonious balance.