The Edna Valley Appellation in San Luis Obispo County, along California’s Central Coast, is a growing region profoundly influence by its proximity to the Pacific Ocean.  It has one of the longest growing seasons in the world; bud break typically occurs in February, with harvest in October.  This slow ripening is especially favorable for the noble Chardonnay grape, which develops great nuances of flavor while retaining its elegant nature.

Wolff Vineyard, Chardonnay

Vineyard

Jean-Pierre Wolff farms 55 acres of Chardonnay vines in the bucolic Edna Valley, outside the town of San Luis Obispo. Originally planted in 1976 by Edna Valley wine pioneer Andy Macgregor (Wolff purchased the property from Macgregor in 1999), the vineyard is the oldest in the Edna Valley. Mount Eden has made Chardonnay from this vineyard since 1985. These mature vines typically yield two to four tons per acre.

Aging

The winemaking process is essentially the same as with Mount Eden’s Estate Chardonnay. After harvest, the fruit is trucked to our winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It is pressed without crushing and entirely barrel-fermented in a mix of new, two and three-year-old French Burgundy barrels. Undergoing full malolactic fermentation, the wine is aged eight months in barrel until bottling.

Profile

Full, lush tropical fruit dominates this wine’s aromas and flavors. Complex and heady on the palate, it is a premier example of Central Coast Chardonnay.