Chardonnay Reserve
⏳ Drinking Window
2023 - 2028
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted chicken, creamy mushroom risotto, lobster with drawn butter
✨ Technical Specifications
Hailing from the wind-swept corridors of Monterey County, Scheid Vineyards Chardonnay Reserve is a testament to the dramatic cooling influence of the Monterey Bay. The Salinas Valley acts as a natural thermal engine, drawing cold marine air and fog over the vineyards daily. This unique microclimate extends the growing season, allowing the Chardonnay grapes to develop intense, concentrated flavors while retaining their signature crisp acidity. Crafted from select estate blocks, this Reserve bottling is typically barrel-fermented and aged in French oak, undergoing malolactic fermentation to achieve a luxurious, creamy texture. The result is a beautifully balanced wine that marries rich notes of toasted brioche and vanilla with vibrant citrus and stone fruit flavors, reflecting both the rugged coastal terroir and the winery's commitment to sustainable, wind-powered craftsmanship.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1972 by pioneer Al Scheid, Scheid Vineyards began as an ambitious viticultural venture in southern Monterey County, initially supplying fruit to major California wineries before evolving into a vertically integrated estate wine producer. Spanning more than 3,000 acres across a 70-mile expanse of the Salinas Valley—encompassing microclimates across the Monterey, Arroyo Seco, and Hames Valley AVAs—the estate leverages thermal diurnal shifts driven by maritime winds off Monterey Bay. Viticulture balances alluvial gravel, decomposed granite, and clay-loam soils across twelve distinct ranch sites, farmed under SIP Certified and Certified California Sustainable standards, with the winery fully powered by an onsite wind turbine. Winemaking prioritizes varietal clarity, tension, and texture across an eclectic portfolio, celebrated for vibrant Sauvignon Blanc Reserve, aromatic Viognier, racy Dry Riesling, and rare regional white bottlings such as Petit Manseng and Roussanne.
🍇 Grapes
Chardonnay