Chardonnay
Monterey County, California
About
Located in the Central Coast region of California, the Salinas Valley is also known as the Long Valley, a name coined by writer John Steinbeck due to its 100-mile length. Cradled between the Gabilan and Santa Lucia mountain ranges, this bountiful stretch was carved out by the Salinas River millions of years ago and holds some of the world’s richest farm and vineyard land. We’re proud to be farmers of our estate vineyards since 1972 in the Long Valley, a place that is truly a gift from Mother Nature.
Growing
Our estate vineyards in Monterey County offer ideal growing conditions for Burgundian varietals such as Chardonnay. The cool ocean air that comes sweeping down the valley each day lengthens the growing season and allows the grapes to ripen slowly and evenly. The grapes were harvested during the night and early morning to keep the fruit cool in order to preserve the delicate nuances of flavor.
Winemaking
Upon arrival at the winery, the grapes were gently whole-cluster pressed, chilled, and racked clean to a refrigerated stainless steel tank. The juice was slowly fermented at a cool temperature to enhance the varietal aromatics. We strive for a rich yet refreshing flavor profile, achieved through a combination of aging in stainless steel and French oak.