Wine maker notes

THE SERIES: MONTEREY From our home in the Russian River Valley, La Crema has pioneered cool-climate artisan winemaking. This has led to our exploration of California’s finest coastal growing regions where cooling ocean wind and fog allow the grapes to ripen slowly on the vine, developing complex aromas and flavors. Our quest has drawn us north into the rugged hills of Mendocino and south along the wind-swept slopes of Los Carneros. Our Monterey wines originate on the cool benchlands of this coastal appellation, where beautifully textured Chardonnay makes a natural addition to our portfolio. THE PLACE: MONTEREY The vineyards of Monterey are defined by persistent ocean winds that are funneled down a 90-mile-long valley running north to south between the Santa Lucia and Gabilan Mountains. These strong winds combine with abundant sun and scarce rainfall to give this wine region one of the longest, coolest growing seasons in California. The coolest vineyards are at the northernmost tip of the valley, where Chardonnay develops remarkable aromatic and textural complexity with crisp, firm structural elements. A variety of clones – Clone 4, Dijon and Rued – were chosen for this release to emphasize Monterey Chardonnay’s natural complexity and intense aromatics.