2016 Bedrock Wine Company Chuy Chardonnay

Bedrock Wine Co. was founded in 2007 in a Sonoma chicken coop. But it’s not an exaggeration to say that Morgan Twain-Peterson, Bedrock’s founder and winemaker, has been in the wine business since birth. His father is Joel Peterson, founder of Ravenswood, the iconoclastic Sonoma producer known for powerhouse Zinfandel, and Morgan began blending his own wine at age five. After college in New York, Morgan worked in various areas of the wine industry before returning to California and starting Bedrock, named for one his family’s vineyards. He sources grapes from Bedrock and other vineyards throughout the region and often seeks out old vine vineyards. Bedrock’s flagship wine is the Bedrock Heritage, usually a blend of mostly Zinfandel and Carignan. Bedrock also makes Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and many red and white blends. Reviews have been highly complimentary. Robert M. Parker Jr. has written that Twain-Peterson “has hit the wine scene with a bang, producing vibrant, personality-filled, delicious wines from extremely old vines and, in some cases, virtually unknown grapes, such as Aubun, Teredalgo, Trousseau Noir, Le Noir, Mission, Trousseau Gris, Grand Noir and Abouriou, as well as Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Grenache, Carignan, Alicante Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Tempranillo. Many of these sites are heritage terroirs from the ancient past which, until Peterson's arrival, were largely ignored or were co-mingled into some innocuous industrial blend. Bedrock's portfolio is filled with exciting wines.” Twain-Peterson has earned the distinction of becoming a Master of Wine by successfully completing the rigorous program at The Institute of Masters of Wine. It is one of the mostly highly regarded qualifications in the world of fine wine.

Moon Mountain AVA earned its official status as an American Viticultural Area in 2013. The Moon Mountain district is a sub-appellation of Sonoma Valley, and has long been considered a prestigious address for vineyards. At the relatively high level of 400 to 2.700 feet above sea level, the 17,633-acre AVA is on the western slope of the Mayacamas Mountains. About 2,000 acres within the AVA are planted to vineyards. The climate benefits from constant breezes from the bay as well as sunshine, since the area is above the fog line. Grapes grown in the AVA are primarily Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel, with some Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

This white variety originated in Burgundy, but is now grown around the world. Its flexibility to thrive in many regions translates to wide flavor profile in the market. Chardonnay is commonly used in making Champagne and sparkling wines.