Isabelle's Vineyard Chardonnay
⏳ Drinking Window
2023 - 2027
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Pan-seared scallops, roasted chicken with herbs, creamy mushroom risotto
✨ Technical Specifications
Named in honor of founder Al Scheid's mother, Isabelle's Vineyard is the northernmost estate vineyard in the Scheid portfolio, situated in the chilly wind-swept corridor of the Salinas Valley in Monterey County. This unique terroir is heavily influenced by the deep submarine canyon of Monterey Bay, which funnels cold marine air and dense morning fog across the vines. This natural air conditioning slows ripening, allowing the Chardonnay grapes to develop complex, concentrated flavors while preserving a vibrant, crisp acidity. The resulting wine beautifully balances this cool-climate brightness with a refined, elegant texture derived from careful French oak aging and partial malolactic fermentation.
🍾 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%