Santa Margarita, CA—Ancient Peaks Winery is set to release its inaugural broad-market Chardonnay, an estate-grown wine hailing from one of the coolest winegrowing environments in the Paso Robles AVA.
Margarita Vineyard, photo by Matt Wallace
The 2015 Chardonnay marks the first addition to the winery’s core family of wines in more than five years.
“We are very purposeful when it comes to growing our portfolio,” said VP of Operations Amanda Wittstrom-Higgins. “We have been playing around with Chardonnay on a limited-production level for several years now, and we finally decided that it was time to welcome it into the fold.”
The 2015 Chardonnay ($16, available in all Ancient Peaks markets nationwide) comes from the winerys’ estate Margarita Vineyard, the southernmost vineyard in the Paso Robles region, and the only commercial vineyard in the Santa Margarita Ranch sub-AVA.
“We are only 14 miles from the ocean and just over the mountain from San Luis Obispo, which is coastal Chardonnay country,” said Director of Winemaking Mike Sinor. “The result is a sort of hybrid climate here at Margarita Vineyard.”
The Chardonnay is planted to granitic soils along blocks 21 and 22, which occupy the lowest and coldest location on Margarita Vineyard. “Marine air comes right through the Trout Creek notch and settles in this area, which allows our Chardonnay fruit to maintain ample acidity and lively flavors through ripeness,” Sinor said.
The winemaking vision of the 2015 Chardonnay was to produce a wine that strikes a fine balance between the leaner and richer styles of the varietal, in order to offer a versatile, food-friendly Chardonnay. Accordingly, the wine was cold-fermented in stainless steel, then aged in a combination of stainless steel and neutral French oak.
The Ancient Peaks 2015 Chardonnay offers inviting aromas of pear, fig and lime zest with a hint of apple blossom. The palate begins on a creamy note, unfolding with bright flavors of nectarine, white peach, pineapple and lemon drop. Brisk mineral accents and fresh acidity converge on a buoyant finish.
Ancient Peaks is a family-owned winery specializing in wines from our sustainably farmed estate Margarita Vineyard in Paso Robles on California’s Central Coast. Margarita Vineyard stands alone as the southernmost vineyard in the Paso Robles AVA, nestled into the rugged Santa Lucia Mountain Range just 14 miles from the Pacific Ocean. The name Ancient Peaks honors the tall peaks surrounding Margarita Vineyard, which were forged by the collision of the coastal plates. Over time, these same geologic forces blessed us with five distinct soil zones—ancient sea bed, rocky alluvium, shale, volcanic and granitic—that bring natural complexity to our wines. Our tasting room is located in Santa Margarita. Visit www.AncientPeaks.com for more information.
