Winemaker Notes
Il Cuore Chardonnay is produced from grapes grown exclusively in the cool coastal region of Mendocino County, the viticultural "heart" of California. Vineyards in this region invoke Chardonnays that are fresh with apple and pear flavors, complemented by floral nuances in the bouquet.
The fresh, graceful style of Il Cuore Chardonnay results from cold fermentation in small stainless steel vessels and small components of barrel fermentation in mostly neutral small oak cooperage. The balanced use of oak in our winemaking offers versatility with a wide range of foods. Il Cuore Chardonnay is recommended with fish, shellfish, crab cakes, game birds, light pasta, vegetarian dishes and mildly spicy Asian cuisine.
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.