Chardonnay, Sonoma County

Kunde Family Winery has farmed the Sonoma Coast since 1936, building one of California's oldest continuously operated family vineyards. This Chardonnay originates from estate blocks in the cooler western reaches of Sonoma County, where marine influence and fog-laden mornings define the growing season.

The vineyard sites rest on volcanic and alluvial soils at moderate elevation, conditions that favor slow ripening and retention of natural acidity. Fruit is fermented in stainless steel with minimal oak contact, a deliberate choice that preserves the wine's mineral spine and allows the site's limestone-inflected character to emerge. The result is a Chardonnay that prioritizes freshness and terroir expression over the riper, butter-forward profile common in warmer California regions.

This expression drinks immediately but holds through the next 3–4 years, developing subtle complexity as the wine settles in bottle.