Description

Alexander Valley Vineyards Chardonnay

After purchasing the historic Cyrus Alexander homestead, Harry and Maggie Wetzel strived to create a thriving agricultural lifestyle on the property. They raised their children along with their vines in Alexander Valley, providing inspiration and encouragement as they developed the estate together. Decades later, the fourth generation of their family is growing up amongst vineyards and next door to the working winery that is known around the world as “AVV”. You could call it a family tradition.  We’d be inclined to agree.

Winemaker Kevin Hall is constantly adapting to the rhythms of nature, the readiness of the vineyards and the evolution of the individual wines. While our vineyards provide the sense of terroir and consistent character of our fruit, our winemaking staff provides the invaluable experience. Their work is constant and crucial; topping the barreled wines to minimize air contact as they develop, monitoring and measuring the young wines as they progress, and tasting, tasting, tasting. Decades of experience tying vineyard and winery together give AVV total control of wine production, resulting in rich, complex wines that showcase a truly robust sense of place.

The Wetzel family’s commitment to their vineyards and winery is informed by their respect for the surrounding land. When the family bought their Alexander Valley property in 1962, they were attracted by the ranch’s natural beauty; rugged hillsides, rolling meadows, rushing winter creeks and plentiful wildlife. Since that time the family has focused on protecting this land. Today the third generation is continuing this legacy as the fourth generation is growing up on the property they love.

Our location in the southern end of the Alexander Valley is defined by the Russian River. Morning fog, warm days and daily diurnal temperature swings of 40 to 50 degrees provide the ideal growing conditions for our Chardonnay.

We harvest 75% of our Chardonnay at night when the grapes are cool to retain the natural acidity, then cold ferment those lots in stainless steel, without malolactic fermentation or barrel aging, to highlight the citrus and green apple flavors. We whole-cluster press 25% of the best fruit and barrel ferment that portion in French oak barrels. The barrel fermented lots undergo secondary malolactic fermentation and age on the lees for six to eight months to develop roundness and body.

Alexander Valley Vineyards Chardonnay a full bodied, well balanced Chardonnay with loads of fresh fruit flavors. Aromas of apple, pear, vanilla along with floral notes and hint of oak from the minimal barrel aging fill the glass. Fresh fruit flavors of pear, apple, nectarine, juicy peach and tropical fruits along with slight citrus notes are balanced by the rich mouthfeel and slight minerality on the finish.

Alexander Valley Vineyards Chardonnay Notes To Your Senses

• APPEARANCE: Golden amber
• AROMA: Apple, pear, vanilla along with floral notes and hint of oak
• TASTE: Bright acidity with citrus and green apple
• FINISH: Balanced with slight minerality
• ABV: 14%