2005 Simi Alexander Valley Chardonnay

Simi Winery is in Sonoma County. It was established in 1876 after brothers Giuseppe and Pietro Simi left Tuscany to pan for gold in California. Within 20 years they were making wine in Healdsburg. During prohibition Giuseppe’s daughter ran the winery and continued to make wine, which she stored in the cellar. Today the winery is owned by Constellation Brands, a large conglomerate with which owns numerous wineries around the world. The estate owns 600 acres in Alexander Valley and 120 acres in the Russian River Valley and produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Pinot Noir.

Alexander Valley is an American Viticultural Area just north of Healdsburg, in Sonoma County. It was granted AVA status in 1984, with amendments made in subsequent years. The Russian River flows through the valley, and the region was named for Cyrus Alexander, a 19th century landowner and grape grower. The AVA includes 15,000 vineyard acres, much of it rich, alluvial soil layered on a bed of gravel, somewhat similar to many vineyards in Bordeaux. Alexander Valley is sheltered from marine weather by the low hills northeast of Healdsburg, though it is often shrouded in the morning fog coming off the Russian River. Some of the earliest commercial winemaking in the area started in the 1880s, when immigrants formed the Italian Swiss Colony cooperative at Asti. The region made jug wines until the 1960s and 1970s, when a new wave of quality-minded producers started estates. Today Alexander Valley is home to some of California’s most admired wineries, including Simi, Stonestreet and the Francis Ford Coppola Winery. Silver Oak Cellars, though based in Napa Valley, has a second winery in Alexander Valley where it makes Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Many grapes do well in the Alexander Valley, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel.

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.