Rock & Vine Three Ranches Chardonnay 2016
Winemaker Notes
A Chardonnay for those who prefer less oak and more fruit, the Rock & Vine 2016 Chardonnay will shine with a cheese plate with honey-drizzled chevre and a hard-rind nutty sheep’s milk cheese, served with fig paste, candied nuts, and slices of fresh apple
In 2009, Elijah Pfister and Chris Nikolopoulos started a little import company called Maritime Wine Trading based in San Francisco. Given their proximity to Napa and Sonoma and their backgrounds in fine wine, the two were immediately inundated with requests by colleagues to make wines of their own from domestic grapes. With their growing network and proximity to great sources, it was simple enough to go into their “backyard” so to speak, and work with some of the best wines, grown and made by the best winemakers and from the top appellations in the world. The two partners got so good at sourcing and blending, they decided to make it a fulltime focus and purchased Nine North Wine Co from their friends based in Napa. Now they produce, market and sell the Nine North portfolio alongside the imported offering from Maritime nationally. Nine North Wine Company represents a varied portfolio of limited production, handcrafted wines from California, Oregon and Washington State. They specialize in offering exceptional quality and value across more than 15 bottlings, with prices that won’t dent your pocketbook.
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.