A Place of Thistles…

We can only imagine how the first chardonnay grape was discovered. As the word chardonnay gives reference to ‘a place of thistles’, a rich field of beautiful purple comes to mind.

We are very excited about our Clone 4 Wisner Vineyard chardonnay from 2017. Originally from France, chardonnay can be traced back to the Burgundy region. It made it’s way to California in the late 19th Century in the precious clutches of Ernest Wente and was planted in California in 1912. This special grape has the ability to adapt and thrives in a wide range of soil types and in vastly diverse climates, making it one of the most recognizable wines in the world. There are now over 34 different clones of chardonnay.

Chardonnay does exceptionally well in climates that provide cool evening and morning temperatures accompanied by spiking mid-day temperatures. Much of California’s coastal regions behave this way, making chardonnay a choice grape for many regions across California. As a wine, chardonnay can take on different characteristics based on where it’s grown. Cooler climates will make it display as a light, crisp wine with higher acidity and a more neutral mid-palate. Grown in a warmer climate, chardonnay will display more highly floral flavored with a much more robust mouthfeel to the wine. Chardonnay generally produces lower fruit yield which translates to less wine per acre but usually means higher quality wine as a result.

In 1976, chardonnay shockingly tipped the balance in the wine world and the Northern California Chateau Montelena 1973 chardonnay unexpectedly won first place in what would be remembered as The Judgement of Paris. We chose to produce chardonnay as our first varietal because of the rich history, classy elegance, and allure this grape has had on us for years. We also love the ability it has to marriage perfectly with many different classic Northern California foods to create the most memorable experience.

The Wisner Vineyard was re-planted in 1995 and is home to our Clone 4 chardonnay. The vineyard management techniques enforce the sense of place that you are able to taste in the glass. With minimal chemical input and shoot, leaf and cluster thinning which yields higher quality fruit, this vineyard showcases the finest chardonnay of the Livermore Valley in California. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

~ The Kessler Wine Team