Donnachadh Chardonnay
⏳ Drinking Window
2022 - 2027
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted chicken, grilled halibut, creamy mushroom risotto
✨ Technical Specifications
The Dominion Tantara Donnachadh Chardonnay is a brilliant expression of the cool-climate terroir of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA in Santa Barbara County. Sourced from the organically farmed Donnachadh Vineyard, situated on the steep, north-facing slopes of the Santa Ynez River valley, these vines are directly exposed to the chilly marine winds and morning fogs rolling in from the Pacific Ocean. This extreme maritime climate, combined with complex soils of clay, loam, and marine shale, coaxes out a Chardonnay of remarkable tension, vibrant acidity, and deep mineral complexity. Dominion Tantara handles this fruit with classic Burgundian reverence, employing barrel fermentation and aging in select French oak barrels to seamlessly integrate rich texture with the wine's natural, electric coastal energy.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded in 1997 in California's cool-climate Santa Barbara County, Dominion Tantara is an artisan producer renowned for its site-specific Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Sourcing fruit from celebrated Central Coast terroirs such as Bentrock, Dierberg, and La Encantada vineyards, the winery emphasizes low-intervention, Burgundian-inspired winemaking techniques that showcase the purity of each vintage. Its cellar regime prioritizes indigenous fermentations, gentle handling, and judicious use of French oak to produce focused, elegant wines of remarkable depth and ageability. In addition to its acclaimed single-vineyard and reserve Pinot Noirs, Dominion Tantara crafts refined, small-lot expressions of Chardonnay, Syrah, and Cabernet Franc.
🍇 Grape Varieties
Chardonnay