The saying “great wine starts in the vineyard” holds plenty of truth, particularly when it comes to Chardonnay. The grape can be wonderfully transparent, with the imprint of the vineyard often as significant as the fingerprint of the winemaker’s choices.
Read our profile of 11 California sites spanning Napa, Sonoma, Monterey and Santa Barbara. These top vineyards—including Dutton Ranch, Durell, Hyde, Hudson Ranch, Bien Nacido and more—set the benchmark for quality in California.
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