|
|---|
The Napa Valley AVA now joins the ONLINE ranks with The Mendocino County AVA and The Sierra Foothills AVA! Click on the links in the navigation bar to visit those pages. Explore Chardonnay |
|
This page is all about California Chardonnay. In California it has a diverse growing range. Each area is a tour of its own and each offers unique highlights of its own. The wine history is varied and rich in California with Spanish explorers and missionaries, Russian fur traders and loggers or the flood of 49ers looking for riches in the Sierra Foothills during the Gold Rush and others. For more information about the regions where Chardonnay is produced, click on the regional names in the navigation bar on the left. There you will find links to that region's sub page with specific information about the region, lists of wineries plus links for area food, lodging and other local highlights.
Terroir
You have terroir in your glass! Rocks and sand, sendiment scraped from ocean floors and pushed to mountaintops millions of years ago or river floodplains contribute to your wine. Your wine brings you the aromas and flavors of the sun that beats on grapes and vines day after day or the fog, creeping through valleys, that refreshes at night.
Understanding terroir will help you choose wines that you like. Explore Merlot's diverse growing range through these pages. Each area is a tour of its own and each offers unique highlights of history and topography. These tours are about discovering that uniqueness. Click on the AVA links in the navigation bar on the left to go down the page to the sub-AVA of your interest listed in the table below. There you will find links to specific information about that region including lists of wineries plus links for area food, lodging and other local highlights.
Chardonnay prefers a slightly cooler climate so it grows successfully in the Mendocino County AVA, The Russian River regions in Sonoma County AVA and Napa Valley AVA regions. As usual, for California, microclimates throughout the state create perfect conditions for world class Chardonnay. Make sure you look through this whole page to see Chardonnay's diverse growing range in California. Each area is a tour of its own and each offers it own world class Chardonnat to experience. These tours are about discovering the uniqueness of these regions.
Traditionally, in France, this is a cool weather grape. California Chardonnay however, shows itself to be quite a versatile grape and it is grown successfully in both cool and warm areas. Each brings out distinctive flavors and characteristics.
A Little History
Chardonnay is one of the "noble grapes" which is a French reference to the 6 grape varieties (Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot) that have produced world class wines. The term provides a historical perspective however it is somewhat defunct as other grape varietals have grown on a world wide scale.
Chardonnay is a white grape from the Burgundy and Champagne regions of France. This is one of the main grapes (Pinot Noir being the other) used to create Champagne from France and sparkling wines from California. Chablis is another name by which Chardonnay has been known.
Chardonnay and Food Pairings
Versatile is the word that best describes this grape because of its diverse growing range and the various fermentation methods used in making it into wine. Chardonnay (along with Pinot Noir) is a primary grape for creating Champagne/Sparkling wine.
There are three fermentation methods which have significant influences on Chardonnay's character. First there is stainless steel fermentation. This method highlights the acidic, fruity aspects of the grape and often imparts a mineral edge to the wine. Oak barrel aging mellows the the mineral aspects of Chardonnay and gives it a vanilla flavor. A third process is malolactic fermentation which inolves the addition of lactic acid to the wine that creates soft, buttery, nutty characteristics - wonderful with your favorite cream based pasta.
Sometimes vintners will create a blend of barrel aged and stainless steel aged wines to balance the fruit and butter aspects and creates complexity.
The fermentation methods are important for the discussion of food pairings.
Stainless steel fermented Chardonnay pairs well with broth type soups, mild cheeses, cold cuts, fish, sushi, shellfilsh, pasta with white sauces, butter, olive oil and light Italian or savory herbs: bay leaf, oregano, rosemary, saffron, sage, tarragon and thyme. Baking spices such as allspice, cardamom, cinnamon and ginger. Chicken, turkey, veal, pork and all kinds of egg dishes pair well with Chardonnay.
The ethnic foods that go well with stainless steel fermented Chardonnay are: Asian, foods, Cajun, Indian and Mexican.
Barrel fermented and malolactic fermented Chardonnay with their richer character pair well with the foods and flavors listed above and go with beef, pork, rich creamy, salty foods and full flavored cheese.
One thing is for sure---this is a wine to Explore! We will help you to sort out the different Chardonnay options so you can chose well when next you are faced with a display of this wine.
These pages will provide the tools for you to put together your own self guided tour to learn about and experience Chardonnay in California. As described above, Your exploration can focus on one region or follow a route to sample the highlights of several. Find links in the navigation bar to the left to move back and forth between California AVA regions which are listed in the tables below. Those will take you to pages that list all of the sub AVAs with lists of wineries and links to additional information about food, lodging and area highlights. Stay tuned as, over time, we will provide additional first hand information to give you more finely honed information for your own use.
California American Viticultural Areas (AVAs)
American Viticultural Areas are unique, legally designated grape growing areas that are defined by the ATF. These regions are most often defined by their topography, soil types, climate and sometimes historical relevance.
| North Coast | Mendocino County, Lake County, Sonoma County, Napa Valley, Marin County and Solono County |
| Sierra Foothills | North Yuba, El Dorado, Fair Play, CA Shenandoah Valley, Fiddletown |
| Inland | Yolo County, Madera County, Sacramento County, |
| Delta | San Joaquin County, Siskiyou County, Stanislaus County |
| Central Coast | Alameda, Contra Costa, Monterey, San Benito, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara Santa Cruz |
| South Coast | Los Angeles County, Riverside & San Bernardino, San Diego County |
|
|
The Mendocino County AVA is located in the California North Coast American Viticultural Area (AVA). This is a spectacular region that includes high, rocky, Pacific Ocean wave pounded bluffs in the west and the Coastal Ranges the eastern border of the County. Mendocino County is where the San Andreas fault veers off into the ocean. Most of the wine grapes are grown in the Coastal Ranges where the vineyards are sheltered in the interior valleys that protect the warmth loving vines from cool ocean breezes. There are 56 wineries in Mendocino County and 250 growers. This is a very beautiful and interesting region and well worth the trek to explore.
Ocean cooled Anderson Valley AVA is the number one Chardonnay and sparkling wine region in Mendocino County. Cole Ranch and Potter Valley AVAs produce Chardonnay but those grapes are mostly out sourced to other areas. Redwood Valley has prize winning Chardonnay. Mendocino Ridge, Dos Rios, McDowell Valley, Yorkville Heights do not produce any Chardonnay.
The Mendocino County AVA Chardonnay page is NOW ONLINE! Click on the logo to go to the Mendocino Chardonnay page for detailed information about each sub-AVA including lists of wineries. There are additional links to food and lodging opportunities in Mendocino County.
| Mendocino Ridge | Mendocino |
| Anderson Valley | Redwood Valley |
| Potter Valley | Cole Ranch |
| McDowell Valley | Yorkville Highlands |
| Dos Rios |
The Lake County AVA surrounds Clear Lake, California's biggest natural lake. Lake County is next door to and east of Mendocino. This is a growing viticultural area. There are fourteen wineries that produce mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. Topographically, the elevation is between 1,370 feet at the valley floor and the 2,000 foot extinct volcano, Mount Konocti. The soil is rich alluvial sediment in the valley and red volcanic soil is found at the higher elevations. The pages about these locations are under development.
Guenoc Valley and Benmore Valley AVAs are the biggest producers of Chardonnay in Lake County. Clear Lake, High Valley and the newest AVA since 2005 - Red Hills do not produce any Chardonnay grapes though wineries there offer Chardonnay from grapes sourced from other regions.
The Lake County AVA Chardonnay page is under construction. Stay tuned for detailed information about each sub-AVA including lists of wineries and additional links to food and lodging opportunities in Lake County. Be sure to check back, the Lake County AVA is under development but will be available soon.
| Benmore Valley | Clear Lake |
| Guenoc Valley | High Valley |
| Red Hills-California |
The Sonoma County AVA is located in the California North Coast American Viticultural Area (AVA) which includes Napa Valley, Sonoma and Lake Counties and some of Marin and Solano Counties. Sonoma is Mendocino's southern neighbor and Napa Valley's western neighbor. Like Mendocino, Sonoma's western border is formed by rugged, Pacific Ocean wave pounded bluffs. The Mayacamas Mountain Ranges are Sonoma's eastern border. Coastal regions are cooled by the cold waters and breezes from the Pacific Ocean. Inland, the days are warm but the night temperatures are reduced as breezes and fog from the ocean filter up through the Russian River. Route 12 runs the length of the Valley from Santa Rosa to Glen Ellen. There are 260 wineries in the county.
The Sonoma AVAs below are listed in rough order from west to east and north to south. These are the coastal regions and those in the southern portion of the county cooled by the Russian River conduit funneling cool ocean air and fog into the region at night. This contributes to slower ripening of the grapes, balanced flavors and acidity. Most of the Sonoma County AVAs produce great, world class Chardonnay. The Russian River Valley AVA and Los Carneros AVA are the most well known Chardonnay producers. However, Sonoma Coast AVA, Alexander Valley AVA, Chalk Hill AVA, Green Valley, Bennett Valley AVA, Sonoma Valley AVA and Sonoma Mountain AVA produce outstanding Chardonnay having the right microclimates or the influence of cool air infiltrating through the valleys. Many wineries in the other AVAs produce excellent Chardonnay with grapes that are sourced from the AVAs listed above.
Please check back since the Sonoma County AVA is in the works and will be available soon!!!
| Sonoma Coast | Alexander Valley |
| Dry Creek Valley | Northern Sonoma |
| Russian River Valley | Chalk Hill |
| Knights Valley | Green Valley |
| Bennett Valley | Sonoma Valley |
| Sonoma Mountain | Los Carneros |
| |
The Napa Valley AVA, next door to Sonoma County, is the next stop on our journey south in the California North Coast American Viticultural Area (AVA). The region is mostly commonly referred to as "Napa Valley" since most of its area is in a valley nestled between the Mayacamas Mountains to the west and the Vaca mountains in the east. The 4,343 foot Mt. St. Helena and the town of Calistoga mark its northern border. Surprisingly, this northern region of Napa this is the warmest because it is sheltered from ocean influences. South, is the city of Napa and San Pablo Bay which connects to San Francisco Bay. The bays are condiuits for cool air that moderates the temperatures in this southern portion of Napa. Evenings and mornings bring fog that filters its way from the ocean, through the bays up to the furthest reaches of the valley.
This is a 30 mile stretch of complicated geologic history as over millions of years, tectonic plates collided causing volcanic activity spewing lava and ash. During that time ocean levels rose and fell and water infiltrated from the bays to lay down layers of ocean soils. This has contributed to more than 30 different soils making up the ground of Napa. Once again, terroir is created by the variety of soils and combined with the numerous microclimates. These contribute to the success of just about any varietal of grape in Napa, among them is Chardonnay.
There are more than 400 wineries in Napa Valley. This is an exceedingly diverse area and there are several little known regions that are well worth the effort to explore.We will highlight the Napa regions where Chardonnay flourishes.
| Howell Mountain | St. Helena |
| Chiles Valley | Spring Mountain |
| Rutherford | Oakville |
| Mt. Veeder | Yountville |
| Stags Leap | Atlas Peak |
| Oak Knoll | Los Carneros |
|
|
Click the logo to go to The Sierra Foothills Chardonnay page. The Sierra Foothills AVA is on the Western slopes of the Sierra Nevada. There are 5 sub-AVAs (listed below) that make up the Foothills. The vineyards in the Sierra Foothills are relatively remote and are found at elevations between 1,200 to 3,600 feet above sea level which is well above the fog line. This makes for long, sunny summer days. The soils from 1,200 to about 2,000 foot levels are made of decomposed granite and at elevations above the 3,000 foot level there is crushed volcanic rock. Both soil types provide good drainage but lack many nutrients. The Sierra Foothills - Explore Chardonnay page provides more information about the unique qualities of this region's Chardonnay. You will find hints about food pairings, lists of wineries and links to associations and Chambers of Commerce for more information about restaurants, lodging and local highlights.
| North Yuba | El Dorado |
| Fair Play | Fiddletown |
| CA Shenandoah Valley |
The Inland region is not an AVA but it is a region located east of San Francisco Bay and the Coastal Ranges and west of the Sierra Nevada Foothills. The town of Red Bluff is on the northern end and Sacramento, the state capital, marks the southern border. This 120 mile long valley is protected from ocean breezes and fogs by the Coastal Ranges. Chardonnay and Zinfandel are the most widely grown grapes. Many of the sub-AVAs in this region are one vineyard enterprises so they have been grouped together under the county heading.
Stay tuned for more information about these regions including lists of wineries and specific terroir information per AVA as well as links for area food, lodging and points of interest.
| Yolo County | Madera County |
| Sacramento County |
The Delta region is not an AVA but we have collected the following counties geographically into this category. This is an area that contains some of the most fertile soils in the world. The Delta region is located east of San Francisco Bay and the Coastal Ranges and west of the Sierra Nevada Foothills in the west. The San Joaquin Valley is cooled by ocean breezes and fogs filtering through the San Francisco and San Pablo Bays. Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon are the most widely grown grapes. Stay tuned for information about these sub-AVAs.
| San Joaquin County | Siskiyou County |
| Stanislaus County |
The Bay Area AVA is marked by great diversity in geography and microclimates influenced by mountains, by the ocean and by valleys. Each region produces equal diversity in the character of the wines. The upper elevations of of the Santa Cruz Mountains, combined with the cool ocean breezes create dense, spicy fruitful wines. Valley regions have climates moderated by ocean fog that is blown into them.
The Bay Area AVA Chardonnay page is under construction. Stay tuned for detailed information about each sub-AVA including lists of wineries and additional links to food and lodging opportunities in the Bay Area.
| Ben Lamond Mountain | Livermore |
| San Francisco Bay | San Ysidro District |
| Santa Clara Valley | Santa Cruz Mountains |
The Central Coast AVA is one of the largest and stretches from San Francisco County south to Santa Barbara County. That is 250 miles long and 25 miles wide. This region mostly features Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir all of which favor the cooling influence of the Pacific Ocean, San Francisco Bay and Monterey Bay. Paso Robles is distinct within the region being 20 miles inland which allows for warm days but the topography brings ocean filtered air to cool the nights. This is an area of diverse topography creating the magical microclimates that allow for a diversity of varietals to thrive. These pages will be available soon.
The Central Coast AVA Chardonnay page is under construction. Stay tuned for detailed information about each sub-AVA including lists of wineries and additional links to food and lodging opportunities in the Central Coast.
| Alameda | Contra Costa |
| Monterey | San Benito |
| San Francisco | San Luis Obispo |
| San Mateo | Santa Barbara |
| Santa Clara | Santa Cruz |
© 2007 CaliforniaWineOnline.com
Click on the leaves to return to the top. Click on the logo to go back to CaliforniaWineOnline.com.
|