2023 Bennett Lane Winery Sangiacomo Vineyard Reserve Chardonnay

Bennett Lane Winery is an homage to the owners’ enthusiasm for Italy and traditional winemaking. After Randy and Lisa Lynch traveled through Italy some years ago they decided to grow their own grapes In Napa Valley. They hired Rob Hunter as consulting winemaker and today make wines with names that reflect their interest in the history of Italy and its wine. Their wines are often named after the various gods of Ancient Roman mythology, such as Athena and Bacchus. The wines often earn ratings in the 90s from reviewers.

Carneros AVA, also known as Los Carneros, is at the southern end of the Napa and Sonoma Valleys at the top of the San Francisco Bay. The 8,000 vineyard acres are mostly planted to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, both of which thrive in the district’s cool, marine climate. Carneros became an AVA in 1983 and it has attracted foreign wine companies along with local producers. It has been especially appealing to European producers of sparkling wines including the giant Spanish cava producers Codorniu and Frexinet, and the French Champagne house Taittinger. Codorniu in Carneros is called Artesa, and Frexinet’s Carneros brand is Gloria Ferrer. Taittinger calls its Carneros winery Domaine Carneros. The European producers also make still wines in Carneros.

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.