Sanford Chardonnay - $14.99

Wine Details

Price:	$14.99
Producer:	Sanford Winery
Region:	Santa Barbara County
Varietal:	Chardonnay
Container Size:	750 ML
Flavors:

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Product Description

Our Santa Barbara County Chardonnay comes from four distinct vineyards. Our estate vineyard, La Rinconada, provides the majority of fruit, while Bien Nacido, Sanford & Benedict, and El Camino add to the complexity of this fruit forward, but complex wine. This barrel fermented Chardonnay shows all of the exotic tropical fruit that Santa Barbara is renowned for, along with elegant citrus and minerality from the Santa Rita Hills. This full bodied wine has nice acidity to keep it in balance and makes a nice complement to most seafood, poultry and pasta with lighter sauces.
Sanford Pinot Noir-Santa Barbara showcases grapes from the Sanford & Benedict, La Rinconada and nearby vineyards. Sanford's flagship Pinot, this wine compares favorably with domestic Pinot Noirs and Burgundies at twice the price. Sanford Winery's Santa Rita Hills vineyards also produce the spectacular Chardonnay grapes for Sanford's benchmark white wines: Sanford Chardonnay-Santa Barbara, Sanford Chardonnay-La Rinconada and Sanford Pinot Grigio-Santa Barbara.

Expert Ratings

Vintage	Source	Flavors
2005	WineSpectator	citrus, pear, spice
2004	WineSpectator	apple, melon, pear, spicy
2003	CGCW
2003	WineSpectator
2002	WineSpectator
2002	WineEnthusiast	apple, melon
2001	WineSpectator	citrus, green apple, mineral, pear
2001	WineEnthusiast	mineral, oak, pineapple, smoky
2000	WineSpectator	grapefruit, herb, honey, nectarine
2000	Tanzer	fresh herbs, honey, pear, spice, tropical fruits

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Food Pairings

Category	Pairing
Cheese	Swiss, Brie, Gouda, Soft Pungent Cheese
Poultry & Eggs	Chicken or Turkey, Roast Turkey
Fruits & Nuts	Citrus Fruits
Vegetables	Caesar Salad
Fish or Shellfish	Garlic Shrimp, Lobster Salad, Sea Bass
Sauces	White Wine Sauce
Herbs & Spices	Anise, Fennel Seed, Tarragon, Basil, Curry, Ginger, Nutmeg, Mace, Allspice, Rosemary, Saffron, Thyme

Wine Terms

Name	Value
Chardonnay	(shar dohn nay)—This noble grape’s reputation was established in France, particularly in the Burgundy region, and the highly prized Chardonnay wines from Chablis, Mâcon, Mersault, and Pouilly-Fuissé are imitated by winemakers around the world. Generally an oaked wine (whether from expensive oak barrels or a quick soak in oak chips), its fruity aromas and flavors range from apple in the cooler regions to tropical fruits such a pineapple in the warmer regions. It can also display subtle earthy aromas, such as mushroom or minerals. It has a medium to high acidity and is generally full-bodied. Classical Chardonnay wines are dry. Chardonnay is also an important grape in the Champagne district where it's picked before fully ripe and while it still has high acid and understated fruit flavors—the perfect combination for champagne. California has adopted this grape with a fervor and there are some 200 wineries producing Chardonnay wines in other parts of the United States. Chardonnay has also seen a tremendous planting surge in Australia, and new vineyards are being planted in Italy, Lebanon, New Zealand, Spain, and South Africa.
United States	Wineries exist in all fifty states, but the most predominant (and best) wine comes from Northern California, Oregon, and Washington State, with New York gaining a foothold in the industry. American wines make up about 75% of all wine sales in the US. The appellation system uses the term AVA (American Viticultural Area) to determine where wines were produced, but grape varieties can be planted anywhere in the country. American wineries generally use varietal labeling, and government regulations require that the variety on the label must make up at least 75% of the blend (in Oregon it’s 90%). The words reserve, special selection, private reserve, classic, and so on have no legal definition in the US. Some wineries use these terms to indicate their better wines; others use the words as a marketing tool to move lower quality wines off the shelf.
California	California produces the majority of wine made in the United States. Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel and Pinot Noir dominate the wine production in California, but many other varietials thrive in the California climate. Many fine wines are produced in California using Mediterranean grapes.
California Chardonnay	Chardonnay has emerged as the premier white wine in California. Originating from Burgundy, France, the Chardonnay grape has enabled vintners from the Golden State to produce opulent white wines with crisp, bold flavors. A well made Chardonnay can be enjoyed in a wide array of situations. California Chardonnays typically are dominated by buttery, creamy flavors.