2005 Talley Oliver's Vineyard Chardonnay

Talley Vineyards is a 177-acre estate in the southern part of San Luis Obispo County, on the Central California Coast. The family-run winery produced its first commercial vintage in 1986, but the Talley family has been involved in agriculture in the area since 1948, when Oliver Talley founded Talley Farms and started growing vegetables. Oliver’s son Don planted the family’s first wine grapes in 1982 and a state-of-the-art winery was completed in 1991. Today the third generation of the family is part of the business. Talley Vineyards produces 30,000 cases annually and most of it is Chardonnay or Pinot Noir. Talley wines earn glowing reviews and Wine Advocate has noted that “Talley remains one of the great estates in California that has yet to be fully discovered.”

Edna Valley AVA is within San Luis Obispo County, and within the large Central Coast AVA. Edna Valley became an AVA in 1982 and it includes 22,400 acres of extremely fertile land blessed with a long growing season. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the principal grapes, though Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Albarino, Grenache, Viognier, Merlot and Petite Sirah also are grown. Spanish missionaries were growing grape vines in the Edna Valley in the 18th century, but the valley’s modern wine industry took off in the 1970s. Today there are more than 50 Edna Valley wineries.

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.