Chardonnay
⏳ Drinking Window
2021 - 2026
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Pan-seared sea scallops, roasted chicken with tarragon butter, creamy lobster risotto
✨ Technical Specifications
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.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded in 2001 by Napa Valley veteran Tor Kenward and his wife Susan, TOR Wines is an artisanal producer located in St. Helena, California. Drawing upon Kenward's nearly three decades of executive experience alongside legendary growers and winemakers at Beringer Vineyards, the estate is dedicated to crafting small-production, vineyard-designated wines from premier sites throughout Napa Valley. TOR focuses primarily on historic grand cru-caliber terroirs, most notably Beckstoffer To Kalon, Beckstoffer Dr. Crane, and Cimarossa Vineyard. Employing a minimalist, site-expressive winemaking philosophy, the winery is internationally celebrated for its powerful, cellar-worthy Cabernet Sauvignons, refined Chardonnays, and rare, expressive Syrahs.
🍇 Grape Varieties
Chardonnay