Despite its generally recognized wine characteristics of butter, vanilla, rich texture, citrus, apple, tropical fruit, etc., the chardonnay grape presents essentially a blank slate for producers.

Sometimes this unfortunately means winemakers are tempted to imprint their own personality or respond to perceived consumer preferences. But with the wines below, winemakers attempt to express the source and the personality of the grape.

Anderson Valley

2023 Dutcher Crossing Ferrington ($49) highly regarded vineyard; tart apple, pear, citrus, light oak, balancing acidity

2023 Kendall-Jackson Sable Mountain ($50) high elevation vineyard; delicate stone and tropical fruit, vanilla, Asian spice, rounded finish

Sonoma Coast

2022 Sonoma-Cutrer Les Pierres ($46) premium selection from rocky estate vineyard; ripe pear, apple, roasted hazelnut, rich, butter pastry

Russian River Valley

2023 Davis Bynum River West Vineyard ($30) vineyard in the Middle Reach of the valley; bracing citrus, peach and tangerine, spicy accent

2023 J Vineyards ($40) sourced from top vineyards throughout the appellation; zesty lemon, pear, pineapple, hint of ginger, supple finish

Carneros

2023 Cuvaison Kite Tail ($70) special old vine lot from estate Tai vineyard; brilliant citrus, peach, toasty vanilla, creamy mouthfeel

2024 Frank Family ($40) blend of winery’s Lewis Vineyard, famed Winery Lake, Beckstoffer, and Sangiacomo fruit; beautiful zesty lemon, tropical fruit, hints of vanilla, brioche

2023 Bouchaine Estate ($40) blend of the estate’s best blocks; noticeable creamy oak, fresh apple, juicy grapefruit, light toast

2023 Bouchaine Unoaked ($40) old vine estate fruit fermented and aged without wood barrels, secondary fermentation or lees stirring; apple, lemon, pear leap from the glass

Central Coast

2023 Bernardus ($30) from select vineyards throughout Monterey County; broad spicy, apple, pear, citrus pastry

2023 Daou Reserve Willow Creek District ($52) cool, maritime influenced region home to some of Paso Robles finest wineries; ripe, lemon, honeysuckle, vanilla, rich texture

2022 Talley Rosemary’s Vineyard ($70) estate vineyard in Arroyo Grande Valley bordering the Pacific; vibrant, intense citrus, stone fruit, salty ocean note, creamy, spectacular

2023 Kendal-Jackson Camelot Highlands ($50) high elevation vineyard with 40 year old vines in the Santa Maria Valley; juicy citrus, peach, nice touch of toasty oak

2023 The Hilt Estate Sta. Rita Hills ($50) Pacific Ocean influenced climate and soils; sea spray, exciting lime, apricot, seashells, broad palate, creamy rich

2023 Alma Rosa Sta. Rita Hills ($38) El Jabali estate vineyard; oceanic minerality, precise, honeyed citrus, pear, supple, seamless

2024 Diatom Santa Barbara County ($25) no oak, pure citrus, melon and stone fruit, saline note, herbal tone, supple, fantastic value