EMBRAZEN Chardonnay 2016
Winemaker Notes
EMBRAZEN is more than just a wine brand. It is a call to arms, daring to reclaim her narrative and rewrite history. By celebrating trailblazers of the past, EMBRAZEN illuminates a new way forward, igniting paths to a future where every woman can brazenly revel in the spotlight. So here’s to the women who came before us. And here’s to the women of today. Our power lies in their stories. And it’s time to blow the lid, pop the cork, and roar out a toast.
With a brand like EMBRAZEN, it should be no surprise that its winemaker is a woman. Olivia Teutschel grew up in the Santa Cruz Mountains and graduated with a degree in Wine and Viticulture and a Double Concentration in Wine Business and Enology. Olivia is passionate about what EMBRAZEN stands for and is crafting the perfect bold blends that brazen women would be proud to represent.
California’s most praised white wine, Chardonnay is also the state’s most planted white grape variety. Diverse terrain and microclimates allow for an incredible range of wine styles.
Chardonnay planted in the cooler, coastal zones takes on bright characteristics like lemon zest, key lime, green apple and wet flint. For this style, look to the chilly Sonoma Coast, Carneros, Santa Cruz Mountains, Santa Lucia Highlands and Edna Valley.
The inland zones of California’s coast, such as the Russian River, Sonoma, Napa and Livermore Valleys maintain a more Goldilocks-esque climate where both styles go. Early picking retains acidity and creates a leaner style but leaving the grapes to hang creates an approachable Chardonnay, balancing richness and finesse.
Chardonnay also plays a major part in the sparkling wine production of the Anderson Valley and Carneros.