WINDSOR, Calif., September 17, 2024 – California pioneer Sonoma-Cutrer, located in the heart of the Russian River Valley, announces two new vintages of its award-winning wines – the 2023 Russian River Ranches Chardonnay and 2023 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay. The new vintages are a testament to Sonoma-Cutrer’s people, practices and land all working in unison to uphold the time-honored tradition of winemaking.
Sonoma-Cutrer’s all-female team is led by their Director of Winemaking Cara Morrison and Senior Winemaker Zidanelia Arcidiacono. With each new release, Sonoma-Cutrer continues to utilize hard work and artistry, science and intuition, knowing and feeling.
“The late start to the harvest season allowed the 2023 vintages of the Sonoma Coast and Russian River Ranches Chardonnays to display remarkable balance, complexity and depth of flavor, a testament to the meticulous care and favorable conditions of the growing season,” said Morrison. Arcidiacono added that, “Our team works extremely hard to ensure that our Chardonnays consistently uphold their outstanding reputation. This year, record high winter rains and cooler spring and summer temperatures provided the ideal environment for the grapes to thrive.”
Available in approximately 13,000 on-premise accounts nationwide, Sonoma-Cutrer’s flagship wine, Russian River Ranches, was built in restaurants and is the #1 selling by-the-glass Chardonnay in the U.S. (Source: Winemetrics 2023 On-Premise Domestic Wine Distribution Report Fine Dining). Complementing the Russian River Ranches Chardonnay, the Sonoma Coast Chardonnay was built in the off-premise and is the #1 ranking Chardonnay $20+ in U.S retail (Source: Circana Latest 52 Weeks ending 8/25/2024).
The 2023 Russian River Ranches Chardonnay is a beautiful pale straw color and has a slight green hue. Vibrant aromas of lime zest, Meyer lemon, green apple and bright white pear are accented by a delicate mineral touch, white flowers and toasted almonds. Known for being a fruit forward wine, it offers crisp, bright acidity on the palate with dominant lemon and mineral flavor. The citrus acidity rounds out to a long, velvety texture, with lingering and balanced notes of pineapple and Bosc pear.
The 2023 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay is a rich, medium straw color with aromas of stone fruit and apple blossom, complemented by honeydew, pineapple and subtle oak spice. On the palate, it offers a lush blend of ripe pear and golden delicious apple, balanced by signature bright acidity and soft mid-palate. This finish is distinguished by gentle barrel spice, adding a layer of sophistication. This wine’s vibrant fruit character is perfect for pairing alongside gourmet meals or savoring on its own.
Sonoma-Cutrer’s Sonoma Coast Chardonnay (13.9%) is available to purchase directly from the winery for an SRP of $25 and Russian River Ranches Chardonnay (13.8%) is available for an SRP of $31. Both wines are also available to purchase at select retail locations nationwide (prices may vary).
About Sonoma-Cutrer
Sonoma-Cutrer has been crafting wines since 1981 in the esteemed Russian River Valley growing region of Sonoma County, California. Our flagship wine, Russian River Ranches, was built in the on-premise and dominated for over 30 years as the Most Popular Chardonnay in the former Wine & Spirits Annual Restaurant Poll. Our winemaking process, led by a female-driven team, is designed specifically to preserve the highest quality grapes, and the wines are aged in barrels made of specific French oak trees that are selected to fit the winemakers’ needs. Sonoma County is the first wine region in the world to be 99% sustainable. As a leader in this initiative, Sonoma-Cutrer prioritizes protecting the environment in all viticultural and winemaking processes. All Sonoma-Cutrer wines can be purchased at the Sonoma-Cutrer winery, as well as, through the wine club, Club Cutrer. For more information about our wines, how to purchase, or to join Club Cutrer, please visit www.sonomacutrer.com or visit Facebook at www.facebook.com/sonomacutrervineyards.
About The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc.
The Duckhorn Portfolio is North America’s premier luxury wine company, with eleven wineries, ten state-of-the-art winemaking facilities, eight tasting rooms and over 2,200 coveted acres of vineyards spanning 38 Estate properties. Established in 1976, when vintners Dan and Margaret Duckhorn founded Napa Valley’s Duckhorn Vineyards, today, our portfolio features some of North America’s most revered wineries, including Duckhorn Vineyards, Decoy, Sonoma-Cutrer, Kosta Browne, Goldeneye, Paraduxx, Calera, Migration, Postmark, Canvasback and Greenwing. Sourcing grapes from our own Estate vineyards and fine growers in Napa Valley, Sonoma County, Anderson Valley, California’s North and Central coasts, Oregon and Washington State, we offer a curated and comprehensive portfolio of acclaimed luxury wines with price points ranging from $20 to $230 across more than 15 varietals and 39 appellations. Our wines are available throughout the United States, on five continents, and in more than 50 countries around the world.
