Winemaker Notes
Courtney Benham founded Angeline in 1990, in the heart of Sonoma County. Made in the Russian River Valley at Martin Ray Vineyards & Winery, Angeline’s philosophy has been steadfast from the start –make wine that is a true expression of its varietal.Sourcingfruit from premium vineyards throughout California, Angelineis focusedon thefundamentalsof wine: intentional farming and idyllic conditions. With minimal intervention from the winemaking team, AngelineVineyardsemphasizes the characteristics of each varietal, letting the fruit speak.In essence, AngelinePinot Noir tastes like Pinot Noir –bright, focused, and clean.By highlighting the unique qualities of each varietal, Angeline resonates with those that appreciate the simplicity of good winemaking. But most importantly, Angeline is a wine we want to drink. From a white tablecloth to a picnic blanket, a cheese plate, or a cheeseburger, Angeline has range.
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 large and diverse appellation within California’s North Coast AVA, Mendocino is home to several smaller sub-regions—most notably the Anderson Valley. This scenic region, with rolling hills covered in redwood forests as well as vineyards, is one of the world’s top producers of certified organically-grown grapes. Due to wide geographical and climatic variation, a vast array of wine styles can be found here.