What Is The Famous Wine Region Featured In The Movie Sideways
Thats Santa Barbara.
The greatest attribute of Sideways is that it promoted Pinot Noir, which became very popular because of the movie.
The region of Santa Barbara offers a great variety of unique tasting options with over 120 different wineries to choose from. This region is off-the-beaten-track, but should not be underestimated. Sideways drew much-needed attention to this region and all that it has to offer.
Tongue Dancer 2017 Chardonnay Bacigalupi Vineyard Russian River Valley
The aromatics are very intense offering scents of white peach and lychee with supporting notes of apricot stone, honeysuckle, and citrus zest. The palate echoes the nose delivering a ripe orchard fruits-driven core with flavors of tropical fruit, lemon curd, and candied ginger. The finish is long and lingering with accents of vanilla bean and oak. Full-bodied and nicely balanced with a opulent texture.
“The beauty in this wine comes not only from the vineyard site, clone and soil, but also from the family that farms it. The Bacigalupis have a genuine love of the land, and it shows in every aspect. I was thrilled to not only be able to make wine from this famous vineyard, but also to be asked to do so by Pam herself”.
James MacPhail Winemaker
Not Your Mothers California Chardonnay
Theresa values a sense of place expressed in her wines, as the grapes come from single vineyard sites around the area each having its own unique combination of soil, climate, and farming. Many of these sites have been the vineyards for wines of recognition over the years, and they continue to produce the best fruit around.
A more Burgundian approach to style sets Theresa apart from much of the heavy-handed winemaking that California can be known for. Her process of picking the grapes early gives her wines ample acidity leading to crisp freshness across the line. There is no flabbiness in this Chardonnay, nor is there in any of the wines produced at Gary Farrell.
The 2019 Russian River Selection Chardonnay is a prime example of the quality of Sonoma County fruit, sourced from several vineyard sites, complemented by the structure that can be crafted by thoughtful winemaking. It is rounded and rich but also refreshing and crisp, with layers of Meryer lemon, citrus fruit, pear, and brioche. Light on the oak, but still with a signature touch of spice completing the profile.
Sip on the patio throughout a warm evening, or pair perfectly with white fish made with a simple lemon butter caper sauce.
Gary Farrells Russian River Selection Chardonnay can be purchased for $42 at Mr. D Wine Merchant in Miami, as well as at select Total Wine stores.
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Best Overall: 2018 Benovia Chardonnay Russian River
Courtesy of Wine.com
Benovia winemaker Mike Sullivan cut his teeth serving as assistant winemaker to the great Helen Turley before making a name for himself as one of the most highly regarded grape whisperers of Sonoma County. Theres no going wrong with any bottle made by Sullivans hands. His work with Benovia is marked by a trail of dynamite chardonnays , but the jewel amongst jewels is this classic, accessible, beautiful 2018 Russian River.
Royally complex and under $50, this golden straw-colored bottle drinks like a wine twice its value. Oaky and lemony with great minerality, there are notes of pear, citrus and vanilla. This bottle pairs well with most evenings and is the star of the show during wedding celebrations and other moments of bliss.
Seghesio Family Vineyards Chardonnay 2020
Like a delicious lemon tart, this Chardonnay invites with sweet, zesty, citrus aromas. The similarities between wine and desert continue on its creamy palate, where acidity retains freshness and its 14 percent alcohol content is seamlessly incorporated. This is a standout value pick. Average price: $22. Rating: 90.
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Maggy Hawk Skycrest Vineyard Chardonnay 2019
From Anderson Valley in Mendocino County, this small-production wine serves a high-definition expression of Chardonnay. A creamy nose suggests it went through full or partial malolactic fermentation, and the sweet scent marries nicely with stone fruit scents and a hint of white pepper. Acidity, alcohol, and fruit character land in equal proportions on the palate. Average price: $60. Rating: 90.
Hartford Court Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2020
Sonomas Russian River Valley has proven caliber on the high-quality Chardonnay front, and this expression is a fine example. Ripe and baked stone fruits arrive in luxurious harmony along with the influence of 9 ½ months of French oak aging. Subtle mineral texture on the palate provides the icing on the cake for this classic California Chardonnay. Average price: $35. Rating: 89.
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Bravium Anderson Valley Chardonnay 2019
While this wine spends 10 months in French and Hungarian oak, it seems redundant to mention that, given how seamlessly incorporated those vessels influence are on the final wine. Rather than competing with the fruit, it seems to amplify the tropical and citrus notes that first pop on the nose and sail well onto its finish. Average price: $30. Rating: 89.
The Best Chardonnays For 2022
Native to Burgundy, France, Chardonnay is celebrated by winemakers and drinkers alike for its sheer versatility. This is a grape that plays a central role in the worlds most revered sparkling wines offers fruit notes that run the entire spectrum from citrus to tropical and not only holds its own but thrives when dealt the transformative influences of barrel aging and malolactic fermentation.
Encapsulating that versatility and broad range of guises, this list features bottles from across the United States, and pays worthwhile visits to mainland Greece and the high altitudes of Argentinas Uco valley. Prepare for case buys, food wines, and bottles that will kick off a night with a refreshing pop. These are 27 of the best Chardonnays to drink in 2022.
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The Future Of The Russian River Valley Ava
As a relatively young AVA, the Russian River Valley wine region is still finding its footing in the wine world. Winemakers are realizing that this region has a great deal of potential and are working on improving their vineyards to take advantage of the Russian River Valleys many natural gifts. For example, producers are seeking out uncultivated parcels of land that appear to have the ideal combination of coastal fog, cooling winds, and generous sunshine. These producers have also seen the value in the Russian River Valleys unique mix of Gold Ridge, Altamont, and Franciscan Complex soils, which give the grapes superb structure, balance, and complexity of flavor.
In the future, we will likely see many more incredible wines from the Russian River Valley wine region.
Whether or not they are designed to age, Russian River Valley wines are very pleasurable to drink. Their naturally high acidity makes these wines ideal for pairing with many foods and they make excellent dinner party gifts. In the future, we will likely see many more incredible wines from the Russian River Valley wine region, and in the coming years, these wines will likely gain even greater aging potential as winemakers discover the best methods for cultivating, harvesting, and fermenting the multidimensional grapes that thrive in this areas cool weather. Starting a collection of the best wines from this region now will make you part of this history in the making.
Image source: Naotake Murayama
Inman Family 2016 Russian River Valley Chardonnay
Inman Family Wines is best known for Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, the varietals grown at the Inmans Olivet Grange Estate vineyard. In 2008, winemaker Kathleen Inman decided to try her hand at the other classic Burgundian varietal, Chardonnay. The decision came as a result of Kathleens preference for the leaner more elegant Chardonnays of Chablis and Meursault, and a personal challenge from her husband to see if she could create a Russian River Valley wine with bright acidity, little or no tropical fruit flavors, and a creamy texture from malolactic fermentation without the cloying butteriness so often found in 100% MLF Chardonnays.
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Why Russian River Valley Grapes Are So Complex
The Russian River Valley wine region is ideally suited for growing some of the finest cool-weather grapes in the world. The AVA is located at the center of Californias Sonoma County, about eight miles inland from Sonomas Pacific coastline.
This region was named after the nearby Russian River, which runs through the northern part of the area. This close proximity to two different bodies of water gives the Russian River Valley wine region its famously cool, foggy climate. Ocean fog travels from the coast into the Russian River Valley through the Petaluma Gap and covers the hills in a thick blanket of mist for most of the day. Meanwhile, the Russian River and the many creeks that surround it keep the air consistently cool, even after the fog clears in the mid-afternoon.
These conditions are ideal for producing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay because these grapes taste more complex when they are able to ripen slowly on the vine. In hot, dry climates, wines made using these varieties are sometimes high in sugar but lack acidity and complexity. In the Russian River Valley wine region, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay taste both more austere and nuanced because the fog and chilly conditions slow down the ripening process. Some producers harvest their grapes as late as October or November to allow the fruit to ripen completely.
The Russian River Valley AVA is incredibly diverse and varied in climate.
Vineyard & Vintage Character
The 2020 Hartford Court Russian River Valley Chardonnay is sourced from a collection of small vineyards located throughout the Russian River Valley AVA. These vineyards are a combination of our Estate properties such as Jennifers, Fog Dance, Bellflower, and Arrendell as well as a handful of our neighbors vineyards located in the heart of the Russian River Valley. The sites express the essence of the Russian River Valley by showcasing the best of the sub-regions within our AVA:Middle Reach Ripe fruits, honeysuckle, and jasmine characters.Green Valley Citrus, lemon drop candy, and green apple aromas and flavors.Laguna Ridge Baked apple and pear, layered texture, crystallized ginger finish.Sebastopol Hills Bright citrus oil aromatics with focused acidity and lemon-lime flavors.Santa Rosa Plains – Rich citrus and apple aromas with round, long texture.Each sub-region brings complexity and character to the final blend.
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The Top Producers From The Russian River Valley Wine Region
Many of Sonomas top wine producers own parcels of land all around the Russian River Valley wine region. Typically, winemakers carefully select terroirs that are ideal for growing the particular style of wine they wish to make. For example, if a producer wants to craft very acidic and powerful Pinot Noir, they will likely plant these vines in the Green Valley or somewhere nearby. Producers that want to make Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot usually plant vines in the northeastern part of the Russian River Valley wine region, as this area is warmer and better suited to these varieties.
Theres a real sense of place in the Russian River Valley wine region.
This is part of what makes Russian River Valley wines so special. Winemakers in this region care deeply about the unique flavor characteristics that the terroir lends to each variety. Theres a real sense of place in the Russian River Valley wine region.
Some of the producers in this region that are crafting the finest terroir-driven wines on the market today are:
There are many other fantastic Russian River Valley producers on the fine wine market. One tip to remember as you invest in wines from the Russian River Valley wine region is that every producer has a characteristic style. This is why its important to try a variety of wines from multiple producers to find the labels that speak most strongly to you.
Which Wine Regions Are In California
From North to South, the main regions are Mendocino, Lake, Napa Valley, Sonoma, Livermore Valley, Lodi, Sierra Foothills, Santa Cruz Mountains, Monterey, Paso Robles and Santa Barbara.
California is a vast region that consists of several smaller wine-producing areas. Although Napa Valley and Sonoma are what California is most known for, the states other regions produce equally outstanding wines.
Napa Valley and Paso Robles are renowned for the bold reds of Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel, as well as the scenic wine route which offers unique experiences to wine lovers. On the contrary, Santa Barbara and The Russian River Valley, with conditions more suited to delicate grapes, produce outstanding expressions of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Each of these regions offers a unique take on the wines of California allowing for a greater expression and experience of what the Golden State can truly offer.
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Early Mountain Quaker Run Vineyard Chardonnay 2019
The Quaker Run Vineyard is a relatively new site for Early Mountain, a Virginia winery that offers a bounty of high quality varietal wines. Aged for one year on lees in European oak casks, the wine then spends an additional 5 months on lees in stainless steel. Its profile is rich as expected from the style of winemaking but concentrated orchard fruit notes shine bright throughout. Average price: $42. Rating: 94.
Landmark 2017 Lorenzo Chardonnay
Bright and pale lemon in color with notes of Bartlett pear, lemon zest and apricot on the nose. The complex palate is precise and focused with flavors of sweet lemon and kaffir lime, white peaches and crème brûlée with a hint of salinity. The 2017 Lorenzo Chardonnay has a unique balance of creamy elegance and refreshing texture on the palate that invites you back to the glass for more. Located near the Laguna de Santa Rosa, Lorenzo Vineyard is the coldest Chardonnay vineyard within Landmark’s portfolio and more often concludes our harvest each year. This cool spot and the age of the vines allow the fruit to fully ripen at a very slow pace retaining its natural acidity and the zippiness and structure for which Lorenzo is known.
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La Crema 2017 Kelli Ann Vineyard Chardonnay
One of La Cremas most treasured estate vineyards, the Kelli Ann Vineyard sits a stones throw away from the meandering and picturesque Russian River. First planted to vines in 1989, winemaker Jen Walsh hand-selects blocks from this vineyard to produce a wine that is rich and layered with dimension and concentration.
Tasting Notes For Raeburn Chardonnay 2020
The Russian River Valley is cooled by daily fog off the Pacific Ocean located a few miles to the west. Nearly every evening, fog flows up the Russian River channel and east through the Petaluma Gap producing diurnal temperature swings ranging from 35° to 40° F. Natures air conditioning allows our Chardonnay to ripen slowly while retaining its bright, natural acidity.
Raeburn is an Olde English term which means the river where one goes to drink. So its fitting that Raeburns expressive, beautifully balanced Chardonnay begins in the heart of the Russian River Valley where some of the worlds finest Chardonnay grapes are grown. Ripe, luscious and delicious, let Raeburn take you to the river to share a laugh with friends, enhance your favorite meal or just let the day fall away.
Raeburn Chardonnay shows an array of complex fruit tones ranging from pear and Gravenstein apple to nectarine. The fruit is beautifully complemented with toasted oak, vanilla and hints of Crème Brûlée with a balanced and elegant finish.
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Patz & Hall 2017 Dutton Ranch Russian River Valley Chardonnay
The 2017 Dutton Ranch Chardonnay delivers aromas of ginger, guava and Crème brûlée with toasted almond, and toffee-brown sugar. Dense, and full bodied, theres a pleasingly crisp and mouthwatering green apple note on the palate that melds with dried apricot, tangerine flavors along with a hint of toasted oak. The wine finishes dry with fresh acidity and a touch of lemon zest and candied ginger. Once again, Dutton Ranch has delivered a wonderfully age-worthy wine that captures the charm and complexity of some of Sonoma Countys oldest Chardonnay vines.
Macari Vineyards Chardonnay Estate 2019
The cooler climate of the North Fork of Long Island provides the ideal setting for making fruit-forward Chardonnay like this unaged, stainless steel bottling from Macari. Passionfruit and mango aromas mingle with steely green notes on the nose, transforming to orchard fruit and pleasingly persistent acidity on the palate. This wine has light salad written all over it. Average price: $24. Rating: 89.
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Black Stallion Estate Winery Heritage Napa Valley Chardonnay 2020
Talk about a steal: This is a barrel-fermented, Napa Valley Chard that comes in at less than $25. Aged for up to seven months in oak, the wine received twice-monthly stirring on lees to enhance its creamy texture. That richness is offset by tropical fruit and flinty aromas, as well as lively acidity. This wine is an exhibition in balance and restraint. Average price: $24. Rating: 89.
Gary Farrell Vineyards And Winery
Gary Farrell clearly has an eye for first-rate fruit: Allen, Rochioli, Hallberg and Olivet Lane are great fruit sources. A former winemaker at Davis Bynum, as well as Rochioli, Gary went on to create some of the RRVs most praised wines. Gary Farrell Winery, currently owned by Vincraft, has undergone several transitions, all while retaining high standards and consistency. Their recent releases, under the leadership of talented winemaker Theresa Heredia, are quite impressive.
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