Just as Cabernet Sauvignon is the King of red wine grape varietals, Chardonnay is the King of white wine grapes, making the most powerful, rich and complex white wine on earth; resulting in the most widely planted and most popular white wine in the world.  Chardonnay is an incredibly versatile grape that adapts well in many different climates and is receptive to many different wine making techniques and a major reason why it is grown in almost all major wine regions of the world.

While there are areas with a longer history of growing Chardonnay the weather in California provides the perfect ripening conditions for all the styles and expressions of this noble grape. From dry and crisp, to fruity and easy drinking as well as the powerful, bold and world class; it all available everyday here in Cailfornia!

Southern Napa Valley has the Carneros district, Sonoma has the Russian River and Dry Creek Valleys all of these places along with the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Central Coast all make fantastic Chardonnays. The common thread among all of these fine regions, is the consistently of the warm days and the cool nights provided by the influence of the deep Pacific Ocean coastline.

The most legendary of Chardonnays are proof of the grapes versatility, coming from one of the coldest and most northern growing regions, the wines of Chablis, France are 100% Chardonnay. The wines of Chablis reveal the backbone and intense strength of the grape with bristling acidity and brightness. In Chablis, Chardonnay is not treated with any oak, so the wines Chablis are bone dry, full of crisp, strong, tart green apple with searing minerality. Further south in the bit warmer region of Burgundy Chardonnay finds its greatness in a much more voluptuous style as the wines undergo malolactic fermentation in oak barrels as well as aged in oak. The results of this treatment are big, rich, intense wines Chardonnays with loads of ripe fruit, hints of butter, vanilla, toasty oak and earth.  The great Chardonnay made in the small towns and communes of Chassagne-Montrachet, Puligny-Montrachet and Corton-Charlemange are world famous and known for there fine aging potential in great vintages.

The versatility of Chardonnay and the combination of foods it can accompany is almost endless, from soup to nuts, all fish, roasted poultry and a wide range of cheeses.