Estate Vineyard Chardonnay 2018

Type

White

Grape

Chardonnay

Region

Santa Maria Valley, CA

Value

Environment

Vibe

Ocean + Bright

Characteristics

Acidity

Body

Umami

Production Notes

In Burgundy, all the best things are found in the middle (like the Grand Cru vineyards, which zig and zag mid-slope between lesser ones). It’s just the opposite in Santa Barbara, where greatness lies at the extremes. Scan a map of the California coast — Santa Barbara County is the knee juts out into the Pacific just above Los Angeles. This makes it a special and dynamic place for growing cool-climate Chardonnay — a cymbal crash of desert sun and middle-of-the-ocean air. The grapes for this estate bottling are sourced entirely from the winery’s 73-acre certified sustainable estate vineyard, which features uniquely sandy soils and a strong marine influence. The wine is aged for 11 months in French oak (10% new). Prior to bottling it spends 6 months in stainless steel.

Estate Vineyard Chardonnay - 2018

Côte d’Or meets Point Break. The grace of Burgundy with a rush of energy that's like riding that last perfect wave.

When it comes to exploring the boundaries of coastal Pinot Noir, Presqu’ile’s Dieter Cronje is uniquely primed for the task. For the young South African winemaker, the grape has been a career-long obsession — from the dramatically coastal Stellenboch, where he got his start, to his current post in the Santa Maria Valley — one of the world’s top spots for marine-influenced Pinot. At Presqu’ile, Dieter is backed by 100 years of agricultural history: the Murphy’s, who founded the winery in 2007, are fourth-generation farmers. With longevity comes perspective — and Presqu’ile stands out for its commitment to stewardship and conservation. Since 2010, the winery, along with its 73-acre estate vineyard, has been SIP Certified — one of the most rigorous certifications a U.S. winery can achieve. SIP imposes strict, science-backed standards based on expert input and independent verification in order to address the three P’s of sustainability – people, planet, and prosperity.