Chardonnay
⏳ Drinking Window
2023 - 2026
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted chicken, creamy mushroom risotto, grilled salmon
✨ Technical Specifications
Scheid Vineyards' estate Chardonnay is a beautiful expression of Monterey County's unique cool-climate terroir. The Salinas Valley is defined by its proximity to the deep waters of Monterey Bay, which generate a daily cycle of morning fog and strong afternoon winds. This natural 'air conditioner' prolongs the growing season, allowing the Chardonnay grapes to develop intense tropical and citrus fruit flavors while retaining a brilliant, natural acidity. Historically, early California settlers overlooked the Salinas Valley for grape growing, labeling it too cold and windy. However, pioneers like Al Scheid recognized the potential of these microclimates in the early 1970s. This Chardonnay is typically crafted using a blend of stainless steel fermentation to preserve crisp fruit purity, and French oak barrel aging with partial malolactic fermentation to introduce a subtle creaminess, vanilla, and toasted brioche complexity.
🍾 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
🍷 ABV
13.5-14.5%