La Crema Chardonnay Monterey 2023

Situated near the midpoint of California’s coastline, the Monterey County wine region spans a 100-mile valley framed by the Santa Lucia and Gabilan Mountains. It begins just north of Monterey Bay and extends south to the San Luis Obispo County border. Spanning 40,000 vineyard acres and 10 sub-AVAs, this vast and diverse region is shaped by its varied soils, microclimates, and geography. Windswept and unrestrained, Monterey County is a cool-climate haven for Chardonnay. La Crema sources from vineyards along coastal benches, where strong oceanic winds and scarce rainfall slow ripening, reduce yields, and preserve vivid acidity. Small berries hang longer on the vine, developing complex flavours. These winds are driven by a geological marvel off Monterey Bay’s coast: the Blue Grand Canyon. La Crema’s philosophy of forward-thinking winegrowing and winemaking also extends to how they respect their natural resources. As a Certified Sustainable Winery, they are Leaders in Climate Action, Water Use Innovators and Stewards, and Pioneers in Carbon Sequestration and Regenerative Farming Trials.

The Chardonnay grapes were hand-harvested and gently pressed, followed by static settling for 24 hours. The must was racked to barrel for fermentation, which took place with selected yeasts. The wine was then matured for four to five months in oak barrels, 70% American and 30% French.