This estate-bottled Chardonnay 2013 is totally produced by Zayante Vineyards—the grapes are grown on their land, the wine is bottled on the premises—and winery owners Greg Nolten and Kathleen Starkey-Nolton are fastidious about getting everything just right. The luscious flavors of the Chardonnay on the palate are highlighted by toasty oak and a slight flinty complexity from the soil. Beautiful aromas of crisp green apples and pears make this wine very refreshing and drinkable, “reminiscent of a fine French white burgundy.”
“Our exclusively estate-grown wines are produced from naturally farmed grapes,” say the Noltens. “Our philosophy is that only the finest grapes produce the finest wine. We go out of our way to ensure we grow the finest grapes possible.”
So what you’re getting here for about $18 is a delicious Chardonnay from a small family-owned winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains. You can find it all over in liquor stores and supermarkets.
Zayante Vineyards is open by appointment and for the quarterly Passport event (the next dates being Nov. 19 & 20). They can also be found every Tuesday from 2:30-6:30 p.m. May through October at the Felton Farmers Market in the St. John’s parking lot on Hwy. 9, and they will be the featured winery on the Chardonnay II sailing vessel from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 2. If you have never sailed out on the briny while drinking good wine and eating tasty hors d’oeuvres, then check out chardonnay.com for a full list of wine sails through October.
Zayante Vineyards, 420 Old Mount Road, Felton, 335-7992. zayantevineyards.com.
Roudon-Smith Winery
Al Drewke of Roudon-Smith Winery has closed his tasting room on Hangar Way in Watsonville and is moving to the Stomping Ground—a brand new wine and food concept in Gilroy which is all set to be a happening spot. More on that soon.
Back Nine Adds More Local Wine
The Back Nine Grill & Bar in the Inn at Pasatiempo in Santa Cruz has added more local wines to their list. We can now look for Morgan, Bargetto, Bruzzone, Storrs, Kathryn Kennedy, and J.D. Hurley as well as other California wines. For a full wine list and menu visit backninegrill.com.
