2021 Bevan Cellars Bennett Valley Chardonnay

Bevan Cellars is a boutique winery in Santa Rosa, California, which uses grapes from vineyards in Oakville's Bennett Valley. The winery is owned by Russell Bevan and Victoria De Crescenzo, who met in Des Moines, moved to Minneapolis and eventually decided to give up their jobs in the dental industry to return to Napa Valley, where Russell had grown up. The couple started with a few grapevines planted in their front yard and now contract for grapes in the choice Showket Vineyard of Oakville and the Dry Stack Vineyard in Bennett Valley, in northern Sonoma Valley. Their first vintage was 2004. Bevan Cellar’s signature wines are the Cabernet Sauvignons, though they have also produced Syrah, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc. Robert M. Parker has been highly complimentary: “A small artisanal operation in Santa Rosa…Bevan Cellars has assembled a stunning line-up of wines….I can’t recommend this up-and-coming producer’s wines highly enough.”

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.