Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All VintagesImagine great Chenin Blanc coming from California,” remarked Davies; the organically dry-farmed vines in Buddha’s Dharma, which go back over 75 years, yield just that. This edgy wine is unfiltered and sealed with plantbased corks made from North Carolina sugarcane. Its nose is a sea breeze of pineapple and chamomile. Along with great acidity, there’s a flower garden of aromas and flavors, plus key lime on the finish
A large and diverse appellation within California’s North Coast AVA, Mendocino is home to several smaller sub-regions—most notably the Anderson Valley. This scenic region, with rolling hills covered in redwood forests as well as vineyards, is one of the world’s top producers of certified organically-grown grapes. Due to wide geographical and climatic variation, a vast array of wine styles can be found here.
Unquestionably one of the most diverse grape varieties, Chenin Blanc can do it all. It shines in every style from bone dry to unctuously sweet, oaked or unoaked, still or sparkling and even as the base for fortified wines and spirits. Perhaps Chenin Blanc’s greatest asset is its ever-present acidity, maintained even under warm growing conditions. Somm Secret—Landing in South Africa in the mid 1800s, today the country has double the acreage of Chenin Blanc planted compared to France. There is also a new wave of dedicated producers committed to restoring old Chenin vines.