Winemaker Notes
Chardonnay grapes sourced primarily from Sangiacomo Vineyards, our Estate Vineyards, and Ricci Vineyards, with additional barrels from the Wildcat Mountain Vineyard, underwent traditional European winemaking practices. Each lot was fermented separately and aged on the lees (“sur-lie”) in small French oak barrels, introducing judicious new oak. The result is an elegant and medium-bodied wine that is refreshing and mouthwatering on the finish. It has intense aromas of citrus, apple, white flowers, and peach. This wine offers layers of tropical & stone fruit and light minerality on the palate. Well-balanced acidity gives it a crisp, clean finish, making it an excellent wine with food.
Try it with cream soups, rich seafood, fowl, veal, and pasta dishes.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A full-bodied, handsome white that boasts broad, generous fruit flavors backed by moderate acidity for good balance. Green apples, Bosc pears and hints of mangoes and pineapple give plenty to enjoy, while light butter and vanilla bean accents add complexity.
Schug Winery was founded in 1980 with unwavering dedication to Pinot Noir excellence—a specialization that spans 45 years and sets them apart from generalist wineries. Walter Schug, the legendary winemaker who created Joseph Phelps' iconic Insignia, established his legacy in Carneros, where low-intervention Old World winemaking meets California terroir.
Today, 5th-generation German winemaker Johannes Scheid continues this authentic heritage with wines that consistently score 90+ points across their entire portfolio. Johannes trained at Walter's alma mater in Germany, bringing multi-generational European winemaking expertise to their sustainable California practices.
What makes Schug exceptional is their genuine commitment to specialization and authenticity. While others spread their focus across multiple varietals, they've perfected their craft with nearly half a century devoted to exceptional Pinot Noir. This deep expertise, combined with their European winemaking tradition and compelling value proposition, has driven their national expansion and established Schug as a trusted name among wine enthusiasts who appreciate both heritage and quality.
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.
Known for elegant wines that combine power and finesse, Carneros is set in the rolling hills that straddle the southernmost parts of both Sonoma and Napa counties. The cooling winds from the abutting San Pablo Bay, combined with lots of midday California sunshine, create an ideal environment for producing wines with a perfect balance of crisp acidity and well-ripened fruit.
This cooler pocket of California lends itself to growing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah. Carneros is an important source of sparkling wines made in the style of Champagne as well.