Sanford Winery's La Rinconada Vineyard Chardonnay is a stunning example of a classic, cool-climate Chardonnay. Sourced from the prestigious La Rinconada Vineyard in the Santa Rita Hills AVA of California, this wine displays a beautiful balance of fruit and minerality. On the nose, aromas of green apple and lemon zest mingle with notes of flint and wet stone. The palate is crisp and refreshing, with flavors of pear and green apple underscored by a bright acidity and subtle hints of vanilla. The finish is long and clean, leaving behind a lingering impression of lemon-lime zest. Overall, this wine is a must-try for Chardonnay lovers seeking a refreshing, complex wine.

Tasting Notes

La Rinconada Chardonnay is very expressive, displaying lemon confit and wet rocks while a touch of hazelnut adds charm. Bright, detailed, and nuanced, La Rinconada Chardonnay has a lot going on aromatically, while the minerally stone fruits on the palate are racy with a long finish.

About the Winery

It was only when the Sanford Winery was established in 1971 that the wine-potential of the Santa Barbara County was known to the world. The cool climate and the soil quality of this county encouraged the founders of this winery to plant the first vines in the Sanford & Benedict vineyard here. Currently, this winery is owned and managed by the members of the Terlato family, who have planted vines in other neighbouring vineyards such as La Rinconada as well.

Today, the Sanford Estate stands majestically on the Santa Rosa Road, right in the centre of Sta. Rita Hills. Thanks to the proximity of the Pacific Ocean, the estate is blessed with excellent cool climatic conditions. The maritime conditions prevailing here are highly suitable for growing cool varietals such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The Sanford & Benedict Vineyard and the La Rinconada Vineyard are part of the lovely Sanford Wine Estate.

There are 40 carefully-selected plots on these vineyards for the cultivation of vines. The classification is based on the microclimatic conditions, soil quality and texture of the grapes produced in these areas. The viticultural practices followed at Sta. Rita Hills are quite rare, and not something that you may notice in other vineyards in California. In 1998, these vineyards were recognized as an AVA (American Viticultural Area). This made the region more famous than it already was, because many people started to know about the unique climate, geographical location, grape-growing potential and soil quality of this wonderful location.

The winery, which was completed in 2001, is located in the La Rinconada Vineyard. The design of the winery is environment-friendly, and it has been set up in a way to follow sustainable winemaking techniques inside. The gravity-flow system of the winery ensures that the grapes aren’t pumped aggressively when they move on different levels in the winery.

http://www.sanfordwinery.com

Find out more