Vineyards
Grapes for the 2020 Napa Cellars Chardonnay were selected from vineyards in south Napa Valley, St Helena, and Santa Barbara. The proximity of these vineyards to the fog and breeze from San Francisco, Marin Bay, and the Central Coast creates a cooler climate ideal for growing Chardonnay. These coastal effects also allow for a longer growing season, giving the fruit more time on the vine and helping produce energetic acidity and flavor.
Harvest
The 2020 growing season started with a warm, dry winter with no typical rain or cold weather until the end of March. Overall rainfall was 50% of normal. The mild winter and spring translated to an early start. Our Chardonnay harvest started on August 24th and was completed by September 21st. The vineyards included in this vintage produced fantastic wines, typical of a low yielding vintage.
Winemaking
Chardonnay grapes are carefully hand-picked, harvested and crushed. Fermented and aged in 100% French oak barrels, 24% of which were new, this wine completes 88% malolactic fermentation and undergoes lees stirring for five months.
