2001 Buty Conner Lee Vineyard Chardonnay

Located in Yakima Valley, WA, owner and winemaker Nina Buty believes that making Buty wine is part of a larger process, with many interconnections and contributions. She also believes that great vineyards and great wines have soul. In keeping with these beliefs, Buty is guided by a philosophy that reflects the idea of growth from body to mind to soul to spirit - with each level building on the last to create a more complex and cohesive whole. From the selection of vineyards, the methods used to farm them and the timing of harvest, to Buty's dedication to natural winemaking practices, each level plays an important role in creating Buty wine. To maintain this authenticity, whenever possible Nina emphasizes blends where all the varietals come from the same vineyard. Buy Buty and Beast (Buty's second label) wine on WineBid today.

Yakima Valley AVA was the first AVA created in Washington State. The valley, a 600,000-acre area in south central Washington, was granted AVA status in 1983. In 1984 Columbia Valley was given AVA status, and Yakima Valley was enclosed within the Columbia Valley AVA. Nevertheless, Yakima Valley remains home to the largest concentration of vineyards and wineries in the state. There are more than 60 wineries and some 16,000 vineyard acres, and nearly 40% of Washington wines are made with Yakima Valley grapes. The most frequently planted grape is Chardonnay, followed by Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Winemaking here dates to 1869, when a winemaker from Alsace planted grape vines. Vineyard planting and wine production plodded along slowly until the early 1980s when numerous modern pioneers started making well-reviewed Yakima Valley wines. Some of the state’s newest, most closely watched appellations, including Red Mountain AVA and Horse Heaven Hills AVA, are contained within Yakima Valley.

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.