Winemaker Notes
This wine is made with the thought of coming home from work, putting your feet up, and relaxing with a refreshing glass in hand. This chardonnay is fruit-forward, clean, and benefits from barrel aging that helps to round the wine and add just a touch of richness.
Pair with a variety of dishes, including spicier fare such as pumpkin curry with chicken or with a lighter seafood dish like pan-seared garlic shrimp.
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.