Tondre Chardonnay
⏳ Drinking Window
2022 - 2026
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Pan-seared scallops, roasted chicken, creamy mushroom risotto
✨ Technical Specifications
Sourced from the esteemed Tondre Grapefield in the heart of the Santa Lucia Highlands, this Chardonnay is a testament to the vision of late winegrowing pioneer Tondre Alarid and his son Joe, who planted the vineyard in 1997. The site is defined by its close proximity to Monterey Bay, where the deep marine canyon funnels cool winds and morning fog directly through the vines. This natural air conditioning slows ripening, allowing the grapes to develop deep, concentrated flavors while retaining a vibrant, structural acidity. Dominion Tantara crafts this wine using classic Burgundian techniques, including barrel fermentation and regular lees stirring (bâtonnage), resulting in a Chardonnay of remarkable texture, complexity, and elegance that beautifully marries California sun with cool-climate restraint.
🍾 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