Winemaker Notes
This wine opens with aromas of apple and citrus blossoms, honeysuckle, and wet stones. On the palate, it offers bright flavors of lemon and peach with a subtle hint of sea foam, delivering a fresh, coastal character.
Blend: 41% Ribolla Gialla, 33% Tocai Friulano, 26% Chardonnay
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2022 Annia California White Wine is a blend of 41% Ribolla Gialla, 33% Tocai Friulano, and the rest Chardonnay. In the glass, it pours a bright straw hue and is fresh with aromas of ripe pear, white strawberries, saline, almond, and fresh dewy flowers. Full-bodied, with a supple creamy texture and a rounded mouthfeel, it has notes of candle wax and a long, clean, savory finish with lingering notes of marzipan. Rating: 92+
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Wine Spectator
Juicy and plump, with peach, mango and tangerine flavors that reveal pretty floral accents of orange blossoms, lemon verbena and ylang-ylang, while notes of white pepper and sea salt minerality linger on the long, fresh finish. Ribolla Gialla, Tocai Friulano and Chardonnay.
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Wine Enthusiast
A unique blend of 41% Ribolla Gialla, 33% Tocai Friulano and 26% Chardonnay, this white has a beautiful springtime feel. Aromas and flavors suggest chamomile and jasmine blossom, citrus zest, wet stone, dewy grass warming under-neath the rising sun, bee pollen and just-ripe yellow peach and peach fuzz. Light- to medium-bodied, the wine offers a slight fizz on the palate, giving it extra energy and verve from start to finish.
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.
Responsible for the vast majority of American wine production, if California were a country, it would be the world’s fourth largest wine-producing nation. The state’s diverse terrain and microclimates allow for an incredible range of red wine styles, and unlike tradition-bound Europe, experimentation is more than welcome here. California wineries range from tiny, family-owned boutiques to massive corporations, and price and production are equally varied. Plenty of inexpensive bulk wine is made in the Central Valley area, while Napa Valley is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious and expensive “cult” wines.
Each American Viticultural Area (AVA) and sub-AVA of has its own distinct personality, allowing California to produce red wine of every fashion: from bone dry to unctuously sweet, still to sparkling, light and fresh to rich and full-bodied. In the Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc dominate vineyard acreage. Sonoma County is best known for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Rosé and Zinfandel. The Central Coast has carved out a niche with Rhône Blends based on Grenache and Syrah, while Mendocino has found success with cool climate varieties such as Pinot noir, Riesling and Gewürztraminer. With all the diversity that California wine has to offer, any wine lover will find something to get excited about here.