Avant Chardonnay
⏳ Drinking Window
2021 - 2023
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Grilled chicken breast, fresh oysters, goat cheese salad
✨ Technical Specifications
Kendall-Jackson's Avant Chardonnay represents a modern, vibrant evolution of California Chardonnay, offering a fresh counterpoint to the richer, oak-heavy styles that defined the late 20th century. Sourced from cool-climate coastal vineyards where morning fog and chilly Pacific breezes slow ripening, this cuvée is crafted to showcase the pure, unaltered expression of the grape. To achieve this, the winemaking team utilizes cold fermentation primarily in stainless steel tanks, with only a small portion undergoing aging in neutral French oak. This minimalist approach preserves the grape's natural, electric acidity and bright fruit profile—reminiscent of crisp green apple, fresh pear, and citrus blossoms—while imparting a subtle, elegant texture on the palate without dominant oak or buttery notes.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded in 1982 by Jess Jackson, Kendall-Jackson has evolved into one of the most recognizable icons of California viticulture while remaining under family stewardship led by Barbara Banke. Operating out of the Russian River Valley with the Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens in Santa Rosa, the producer farms estate vineyard parcels spanning prime coastal terroirs across Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, Monterey, and Santa Barbara counties. These ocean-moderated appellations benefit from cooling marine fogs, gravelly alluvial deposits, and long, slow growing seasons. Viticulture emphasizes certified sustainable standards under CCSW and SIP guidelines. Winemaking showcases precision blending, micro-lot fermentations, and thoughtful French and American oak regimes designed to preserve vibrant orchard fruit while cultivating rounded textural richness. The estate is globally synonymous with its flagship Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay, while single-vineyard and sub-regional tier bottlings—such as the Jackson Estate Chardonnay series and Stature Chardonnay—exemplify site-driven, benchmark California whites.
🍇 Grapes
Chardonnay
🍷 ABV
13.5%