Funckenhausen Chardonnay (1 Liter) 2020
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Funckenhausen Chardonnay, with just a touch of Sauvignon Blanc, seeks to highlight the distinctive character of our vineyards in the San Rafael region of Argentina. Altitude, soil composition and constant winds give a distinct sense of place to this fragrant and versatile 1.0 liter wine, because "to share you need more than 750 ml."
Argentina is home to many German immigrants including the Funcke family who arrived to Mendoza in the late 1800s. In honor of his maternal ancestors, Kurt Heinlein founded the Funckenhausen Vineyards in the San Rafael appellation of South Mendoza. The region is located at the foothills of the Andes mountains near the banks of the Diamante river where they grow distinctive Malbec, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Bonarda. Funckenhausen Vineyards is a family-owned winery that seeks to honor Kurt and Alejandro’s German ancestry while establishing an Argentine tradition of winemaking for future generations. Kurt Heinlein and his grandson Alejandro Leirado Heinlein chose to bottle their Malbec blend in a unique 1.0 liter bottle so there would always be plenty available at gatherings with friends and family. “Because to share you need more than 750ml" is aptly printed on the front of each and every bottle.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
By far the largest and best-known winemaking province in Argentina, Mendoza is responsible for over 70% of the country’s enological output. Set in the eastern foothills of the Andes Mountains, the climate is dry and continental, presenting relatively few challenges for viticulturists during the growing season. Mendoza, divided into several distinctive sub-regions, including Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley, is the source of some of the country’s finest wines.
For many wine lovers, Mendoza is practically synonymous with Malbec. Originally a Bordelaise variety brought to Argentina by the French in the mid-1800s, here it found success and renown that it never knew in its homeland where a finicky climate gives mixed results. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot and Pinot Noir are all widely planted here as well (and sometimes even blended with each other or Malbec). Mendoza's main white varieties include Chardonnay, Torrontés, Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon.