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750ml
Bottle:
$41.94
12 bottles:
$41.10
• 100% Chardonnay.
• Old Wente selection planted in 1999 by Ulises Valdez on Goldridge Soil in a block of...
750ml
Bottle:
$18.36
$20.40
12 bottles:
$16.63
Blanc de Bleu, a sparkling wine with an added hint of blueberries, is a delicate wine reserved for memorable...
750ml
Bottle:
$14.73
12 bottles:
$13.99
Ours is not a buttery, oaky Chard. It sees no malolactic fermentation and no oak so you get a dry and bright palate...
750ml
Bottle:
$9.99
An initial impression of rich, buttery cream quickly turns to aromas of honey and lightly toasted almonds, followed...
750ml
Bottle:
$19.60
12 bottles:
$15.83
The brilliant light green and golden straw hue of our Estate Chardonnay hints at the depth of flavor that unfolds in...
750ml
Bottle:
$46.43
$51.59
Nestled between the shore of the upper Russian River and a blue heron nesting site and preserve, the Blue Heron Ranch...
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$32.40
A solidly well-balanced and classic expression of Chardonnay with notes of lemon, lime and grapefruit, white peach...
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$42.12
Satiny, rich, and complex, with layers of butterscotch, fig, apricot and pear that are impeccably balanced. Bold and...
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$42.12
Another overall engaging and interesting Chardonnay expression from Ettore. A deep gold in the glass, initial aromas...
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$38.81
An unusually deep gold color and well-developed, mature aromas and flavors set this wine apart from the crowd, along...
750ml
Bottle:
$20.60
$21.68
12 bottles:
$15.05
Nice entrance, juicy midpalate with creamy oak and a lengthy finish framed by a crisp, mouth-watering acidity.
750ml
Bottle:
$28.99
12 bottles:
$28.41
A good sense of concentration and balance in this medium-bodied wine give it an appetizing appeal. Fresh apple and...
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$52.94
The 2019 Chardonnay Skycrest is a knockout. Bright, floral and energetic, the 2019 is wonderfully detailed and...
750ml
Bottle:
$17.91
12 bottles:
$17.55
The 2023 vintage went through 100% malolactic fermentation which produced this lovely textured wine. Aromas of...
750ml
Bottle:
$22.95
12 bottles:
$22.49
100% Chardonnay from Hawkeye vineyard in Mendocino County. Organically farmed. Natural yeast fermentation occurred in...
750ml
Bottle:
$28.46
12 bottles:
$27.89
The nose of white flowers, lemon oil, crushed rocks, and honey is enticing. This wine has beautiful bright acidity...
Assyrtiko Chardonnay United States California Mendocino County
Cultivated since at least the middle of the Byzantine era, the Assyrtiko grape is generally considered to be one the finest of the Greek grape varietals, as a result of its multi-purpose properties and ability to flourish on a wide range of terrains. The ancient Byzantines used it in conjunction with Aidani and Athiri grapes for the production of their unusual and naturally sweet Vinsanto wines, which are still produced today in Santorini, and continue to be popular. However, the Assyrtiko grapes are used for many different AOC wines across Greece, and are favored by wine makers who want to maintain a dryness and acidic punch to their produce.
The Assyrtiko grapes are renowned for their ability to maintain their acidity as they ripen beneath the blazing Mediterranean sun, resulting in wines which have a distinctive dryness and a range of citrus fruit aromas, as well as great structure and high tannins. Often, Assyrtiko grapes will produce wines which leave an unusual after-taste reminiscent of the mineral rich, volcanic soils they are grown in on the slopes of Santorini, making them a favorite for wine drinkers looking for something full of character and interesting attributes. The past twenty five years have seen Assyrtiko vines planted all over the Greek mainland, and even in Attica and Macedonia, where the softer terrain often produces more fruit forward wines with a milder, less astringent character. However, wherever this fine grape varietal is grown, it is rare the results will be anything less than excellent.
Additional Information on Greek Wines
Greek Wines
Ancient Greek Wines – A Brief History of Wine in Greece
The Myth of Dionysus, Greek God of Wine
What is Retsina?
Of all the white wine grape varietals, surely the one which has spread the furthest and is most widely appreciated is the Chardonnay. This green skinned grape is now grown all over the Old and New Worlds, from New Zealand to the Americas, from England to Chile, and is one of the first varietals people think of when considering white wine grapes. Perhaps this is because of its huge popularity which reached a peak in the 1990s, thanks to new technologies combining with traditional methods to bring the very best features out of the Chardonnay grape, and allow its unique qualities to shine through. Most fine Chardonnay wines use a process known as malolactic fermentation, wherein the malic acids in the grape juice are converted to lactic acids, allowing a creamier, buttery nature to come forward in the wine. No grape varietal is better suited to this process than Chardonnay, which manages to balance these silky, creamy notes with fresh white fruit flavors beautifully.
Of all the New World wine countries, perhaps the one which has demonstrated the most flair for producing high quality wines - using a combination of traditional and forward-thinking contemporary methods - has been the United States of America. For the past couple of centuries, the United States has set about transforming much of its suitable land into vast vineyards, capable of supporting a wide variety of world-class grape varietals which thrive on both the Atlantic and the Pacific coastlines. Of course, we immediately think of sun-drenched California in regards to American wines, with its enormous vineyards responsible for the New World's finest examples of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot based wines, but many other states have taken to viticulture in a big way, with impressive results. Oregon, Washington State and New York have all developed sophisticated and technologically advanced wine cultures of their own, and the output of U.S wineries is increasing each year as more and more people are converted to their produce.
California as a wine producing region has grown in size and importance considerably over the past couple of centuries, and today is the proud producer of more than ninety percent of the United States' wines. Indeed, if California was a country, it would be the fourth largest producer of wine in the world, with a vast range of vineyards covering almost half a million acres. The secret to California's success as a wine region has a lot to do with the high quality of its soils, and the fact that it has an extensive Pacific coastline which perfectly tempers the blazing sunshine it experiences all year round. The winds coming off the ocean cool the vines, and the natural valleys and mountainsides which make up most of the state's wine regions make for ideal areas in which to cultivate a variety of high quality grapes.