Fume Blanc
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed within 1 to 5 years from the vintage release to appreciate its vibrant fruit and crisp acidity.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Fresh goat cheese salad, grilled white fish with herbs, and roasted chicken.
✨ Technical Specifications
In 1968, Robert Mondavi revolutionized California Sauvignon Blanc by dry-fermenting the grape and aging it in French oak barrels, naming the result 'Fumé Blanc' as a clever nod to the Pouilly-Fumé region of the Loire Valley. This historic move transformed a neglected, overly sweet variety into a sophisticated, dry white wine that became a cornerstone of Napa Valley winemaking. Sourced primarily from Napa Valley, including the legendary To Kalon Vineyard in Oakville, this wine typically blends Sauvignon Blanc with a small percentage of Sémillon. It is partially barrel-fermented and aged on its lees, resulting in a beautifully textured wine that balances vibrant citrus, melon, and lemongrass notes with a subtle, creamy complexity and a hint of flinty minerality.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded in 1966 by visionary vintner Robert Mondavi, Robert Mondavi Winery was established in Oakville with the singular mission of creating Napa Valley wines that could rival the finest estates in the world. Operating from its iconic California Mission-style winery designed by Cliff May, the estate played a pivotal role in pioneering the modern American wine industry, particularly through its stewardship of the historic To Kalon Vineyard. Mondavi championed cutting-edge viticultural techniques, temperature-controlled stainless steel fermentation, French oak barrel aging, and popularized dry-fermented Sauvignon Blanc under the moniker Fumé Blanc. Today, the winery remains globally celebrated for its benchmark Reserve and Oakville Cabernet Sauvignons, as well as its structured, elegant Chardonnays and expressive Bordeaux-style blends.