La Crema Chardonnay 2019, Sonoma Coast, California

One of Sonoma County’s largest AVAs, the Sonoma Coast Appellation stretches from the San Pablo Bay in the South to Mendocino County line to the North and runs primarily along the mountainous coastline of the Paci c Ocean. A sprawling growing region, the Sonoma Coast AVA is known for its strong maritime in uence that provides a cool growing climate throughout the year with fog moderating warmer summer temperatures. The fruit for this wine was sourced from several of La Crema’s estate vineyards including Saralee’s, Kelli Ann, and Durell. Soils across the vineyards are predominantly free draining and low vigor. Once picked the fruit is gently pressed and allowed to settle for 24 hours before being racked to oak barrels for fermentation. 15% of the barrels are initially co-inoculated with a house strain of malolactic bacteria which are later used to top off the remainder of the entire lot after primary fermentation is complete. The lees in each barrel are stirred once or twice a month to provide additional texture. The nished wine is aged on lees for 8 months before nal blending and bottling.