California Producers

Question 1

Where is Dumol? What are the names given to their Chardonnays and the corresponding vineyards?

Answer 1

Russian River Valley (1996)

Chloe (Ritchie Vineyard, RRV)
Clare (Hyde Vineyard, Carneros)
Isobel (Charles Heintz Vineyard, RRV)

Question 2

Where is Kongsgaard and what are their top wines produced?

Answer 2

(1996) Winery is in Atlas Peak within Napa Valley however they have holdings in Carneros, Atlas Peak, and Napa Valley. Their top wines produced are their Napa Chardonnay and “The Judge” Chardonnay.

Question 3

Where is Charles Heintz Vineyard located?

Answer 3

Russian River Valley

Question 4

Where is Hyde Vineyard located?

Answer 4

Los Carneros

Question 5

Where is Mayacamas?

Answer 5

Mount Veeder (1941 though winery was built in 1889)

Question 6

Where is Lewis Cellars?

Answer 6

Napa Valley near Oak Knoll

Question 7

Where is Hanzell?

Answer 7

Sonoma Valley 1948

Question 8

What kind of style is the Hanzell Sebella Vineyard?

Answer 8

Fermented entirely in stainless steel with no Malo and aged in used oak.

Question 9

What style is Hanzell Vineyards Chardonnay?

Answer 9

Minimum skin contact for 2 hours. 75% fermented in cool stainless steel with no malo, the rest is fermented in barrel and undergoes full malo.

Question 10

What is the style of Mayacamas Chardonnay?

Answer 10

Made from low-yielding grapes fermented in large wooden barrels with no Malo employees and in less than 10% new oak.

Question 11

What is the style of Kongsgaard?

Answer 11

Very low-yielding higher than average ripeness, leaf thinning for greater sun exposure to promote thicker skins. The wines actually oxidize before fermentation so that minimal sulfur can be used. Long, slow barrel fermentations for up to a year. Wines are aged for two years.

Question 12

Where is Peter Michael located?

Answer 12

Sonoma County with holdings in Knight Valley AVA, Fort Ross Seaview AVA, and Oakville AVA (Napa). (1983)

Question 13

What style is the Belle Cote from Peter Michael? Where is the vineyard located.

Answer 13

Located in the warm Knights Valley AVA in Northern Sonoma County. Barrel fermentation of this ripe fruit with weekly batting gives a style that is rich, creamy, tropical fruited, and exotic spiced. Slighty nutty but naturally higher acidity due to the relative coolness of the vineyard site which doesn’t receive a high amount of afternoon sun. 15.6% ABV!

Question 14

What is the style of La Carriere by Peter Michael?

Answer 14

Rich and creamy due to the ripe fruit and malolactic fermentation in 100% new French Oak. Compared to the Belle Cote this wine shows more florally and minerality as a result of its rocky soils. 15.5% ABV!

Question 15

Where is Kistler located? Where do they have holdings?

Answer 15

Russian River Valley (1978). They have holdings in Sonoma Coast AVA, Sonoma Mountain AVA, and Carneros AVA.

Question 16

What is the style of Kistler?

Answer 16

Made famous by the big, rich style of Chardonnay in the past. Kilter is now trying to pick grapes with higher acidity and tone back the use of new oak to make a more Burgundian style. The Les Noisetiers Chard that we have was produced exclusively for restaurants as its higher acidity and less new oak bring freshness and rare mineralogy that highlights the western Sonoma Coast AVA.

Question 17

Where is Littorai?

Answer 17

Located in Green Valley within Russian River Valley. Has holdings in Anderson Valley and all over the Sonoma Coast.

Question 18

What is the style of Littorai Chardonnay?

Answer 18

Burgundian. Whole cluster fermentation in barrel with extended aging on lees and hardly any battonage. 20-25% new oak and aged in a combination of 228L and 450L.

Question 19

What is notable about Littorai owner Ted Lemon?

Answer 19

He used to be the winemaker and vineyard manager and Domaine Roulot! Also the only American to this date to have been both a winemaker and vineyard manager in Burgundy. Studied under Dujac, Roumier, and Bruno Clair prior to his position with Roulot.

Question 20

Where is Ceritas wines? Who owns it?

Answer 20

In Santa Clara. John Raytek, former sommelier at the Little Nell!

Question 21

What is the style of Ceritas Chardonnay?

Answer 21

Early oxidation prior to fermentation is promoted (like Kongsgaard) and then barrel fermentation takes place in old barrels where lees are not stirred (like Roulot). Style is clean, fresh and vibrant, but textured Chardonnay coming from the Santa Cruz Mountains. Think richer premier cru Chablis with a Cali spin.