Chardonnay
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 3–10 years from the vintage release.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Pan-seared sea scallops, roasted chicken with tarragon butter, creamy lobster risotto
✨ wine.spec_sheet
TOR Kenward's Chardonnay program is fueled by a lifelong passion for the great white wines of Burgundy, translated through the lens of Northern California's finest cool-climate terroirs. Sourcing from legendary, wind-swept sites in Carneros and the Sonoma Valley—such as the Hyde, Durell, and Beresini vineyards—TOR crafts Chardonnays of remarkable depth and precision. The winemaking philosophy is deeply traditional: grapes are whole-cluster pressed, fermented with native yeasts in French oak barrels, and subjected to weekly battonage (lees stirring) to build a rich, luscious texture. To preserve the pure expression of the vineyard and the natural vibrancy of the fruit, the wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered, yielding a style that beautifully balances opulent California fruit with a classic, mineral-driven structure.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Founded in 2001 by Napa Valley veteran Tor Kenward and his wife Susan, TOR Kenward Family Wines is a boutique estate dedicated to crafting small-lot, single-vineyard wines that express the singular terroirs of Napa Valley. Drawing on Kenward's nearly three decades of experience at Beringer, the winery sources fruit from legendary sites, most notably the historic Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard in Oakville. The winemaking philosophy, guided by winemaker Jeff Ames, emphasizes minimal intervention, utilizing native yeast fermentations, and bottling without fining or filtration. TOR is highly celebrated for its powerful, complex Cabernet Sauvignons and expressive Syrahs that showcase the pinnacle of California winemaking. Address: 1507 Main St, St Helena, CA 94574, USA Website: https://torwines.com