Heller Estate Chenin Blanc 2009 750ml

Winery: Heller Estate

Varietal: Chenin Blanc

Chenin Blanc is widely recognized as being one of the finest and most versatile white wine grape varietals in the world. In their native home of France's Loire Valley, wineries have used this varietal for centuries to produce a wide range of excellent wines, made possible by the fact that the high acidity in the grapes allows vintners to produce everything from dry, still varieties, to sparkling crémants and sweet dessert wines. One of the key features of this grape, and one which has won it many admirers, is the fact that the transparency of the varietal allows it to express the finer features of the terroir it is grown on, and also allows it to demonstrate the skill of the winemaker in the bottle. These grapes are a hardy varietal, growing well in moderate climates and in heavy clay-like soils all over the wine producing world.

Region: California

When it comes to New World wine regions, it is widely agreed that many of the finest wines are grown and produced in California. The long stretches of coastline and the valleys and mountainsides which come off them are ideal areas for vine cultivation, and for over a century now, wineries have found a perfect home in the hot, dry state, with many of the wines produced here going on to reach world class status. The state is greatly helped by the brisk oceanic winds which cool the otherwise hot and dry vineyards, which hold mineral rich soils covering vast areas and featuring many established wineries. The state is split into four main regions, the largest by far being the central valley which stretches over three hundred miles in length.

Country: United States

For three hundred years now, the United States has been leading the New World in wine production, both in regards to quantity and quality. Wine is actually produced in all fifty states across the country, with California leading the way by an enormous margin. Indeed, as much as eighty-nine percent of all wines to come out of the United States are produced in California, where the fertile soils and sloping mountain sides, coupled with the long, hot summers provide ideal conditions for producing high quality, European style red, white and rosé wines. With over a million acres of the country under vine, the United States sits comfortably as the fourth largest wine producer in the world, where imported grape varietals from all over the Old World are processed using a successful blend of traditional and contemporary techniques.

Appellation: Monterey County

When it comes to New World wines, California is considered a highly important region capable of producing superb grapes of high quality and distinction. Within California, we find the coastal region of Monterey County, a sunny, breezy area which benefits enormously from the hot, sunny summers and long, warm ripening season, as well as the brisk Pacific Ocean winds and fog, which helps to temper the heat and slow the ripening process. As such, wines from Monterey County are renowned for their finesses and strong, juicy flavors Monterey County wineries process a huge amount of grapes of many different varietals. Indeed, over forty different grape varietals are grown within the region, and plenty of wineries in Monterey County are keen to experiment and innovate with their wine-making methods and techniques. All of this makes Monterey County a fascinating region to explore, full of impressive and flavorful wines.