CALIFORNIA’S BLANC SLATE

With abundant sunshine and warm weather, most of California exudes an endless summer vibe that’s the envy of many outside its borders. And along with such a bountiful climate comes a jaw-dropping array of grapes that produce some of the world’s best wines.

Throughout the past few decades, preferences have been cast for California’s prime varieties. When it comes to white wines, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris or Grigio have emerged as the state’s blanc superstars. These grapes have yielded breathtaking bottlings and catapulted California’s vinous reputation to a level that rivals those of classic European regions with eons of winemaking history and experience.

Chardonnay is the state’s most popular white wine and, overall, its most planted grape variety. The aromatic Pinot Gris/Grigio grape as well as nervy Sauvignon Blanc are also among the most widely grown, each planted to nearly one-fifth of the acreage of Chardonnay.

All three bring something different and delicious to the table. From established brands to up-and-coming winemakers, there’s plenty to explore and experience across these classic California whites.

Chardonnay

The Stylized Workhorse

Chardonnay first appeared in viticultural reports from the 1880s as “Pinot Chardonnay.” A century or so later, soon after Chateau Montelena Winery wowed the world at the historic 1976 Judgment of Paris, American consumers would crown the grape as queen of California. And today, despite stylistic swings from lean to rich to racy, the rise of an “Anything But Chardonnay” (ABC) revolution and increased interest and acreage for a diverse range of alternative white-wine grapes, Chardonnay still shows no signs of relinquishing that throne.

From the cool coast and the warm Central Valley up through the Sierra Foothills, there were nearly 94,000 acres planted to Chardonnay in 2017. The state’s second-most planted grape, Cabernet Sauvignon, trailed by more than 1,500 acres. Approximately 614,500 tons were crushed that year, around double the amount processed in 1996.

Chardonnay is the best-selling wine in the U.S. In 2018, it accounted for almost 20% of all table wine sold