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Celebrate Chardonnay Day, the Calistoga Way!

In honor of National #Chardonnay Day, here’s a list of wineries where you can grab a bottle, a case, or simply stop in for a tasting of Calistoga’s chardonnay!

Amici Cellars – Try the chardonnay at Amici Cellars, a classic with notes of green apple and pear framed by a hint of oak and butter.

August Briggs Winery – Try the 2014 Leveroni Vineyard Chardonnay, with a light golden color and aromas of poached pear, white nectarines, vanilla bean and pineapple.

Bennett Lane Winery – The Sangiacomo Vineyard Reserve Chardonnay opens with aromas of honey, melon and pineapple.  On the palate it is rich and mouthwatering, with flavors of baked pear, vanilla and nutmeg.

Brian Arden Winery – Try the Reserve Chardonnay, partially oaked in French Oak Barrels for 9 months with a nice crisp finish. If you prefer unoaked, this winery also produces an unoaked chardonnay, aged in stainless steel barrels to promote a light, bright chardonnay.

Castello Di Amorosa – The Napa Valley Chardonnay at Castello di Amorosa has subtle flavors of apple and citrus, balanced with a buttery texture and slight toasted oak.

Chateau Montelena – Chateau Montelena’s chardonnay won at the Judgement of Paris in 1976 and the winery is still producing high-quality and award-winning wines. The Napa Valley Chardonnay has aromas of ripe peach, pear and cloves. On the palate, look forward to ripe melon, green apple, and fresh citrus.

Clos Pegase – The Mitsuko’s Vineyard Chardonnay has aromas of ripe mango, papaya, Meyer lemon, key lime, tarte tatin, white narcissus and beeswax, framed by spicy toasty oak.

Coquerel Family Wines – This boutique winery’s chardonnay has a bouquet of peach, pear, grilled almonds and a hint of flint (minerality). The palate is both creamy and firm. This is an elegant, well proportioned wine that should age gracefully over the next few years.

Davis Estates – The Hudson Vineyard Chardonnay has fresh and complex aromas of melon, green apple and cantaloupe gliding through a combination of citrus zing and rich toasted oak.

Fairwinds Estate Winery – This flirty and slightly acidic chardonnay has a good backbone to carry the rich flavors of white peach, vanilla, dill, tropical fruits and dried thyme to a long finish.

Girard Winery: Brand new to Calistoga, Girard Winery is a beautiful property on Dunaweal Lane, featuring state-of-the-art winemaking facilities, panoramic views of the Vaca and Mayacamas Mountains and spectacular wine.

Hans Fahden Winery – This Hans Fahden Chardonnay opens with notes of fresh nectarines, tangerine blossom, green pineapple, leading to hints of vanilla, maple syrup, and wet stone.

Huge Bear Wines –  The chardonnay at this quirky downtown tasting room has aromas of cream, marzipan, green apple and tropical notes. On the palate, enjoy a rich, rounded entry showing the ripeness of the vintage and striking a good balance of apple, pear and mango merged with sweet oak.

Laura Michael Wines – Laura and Michael prefer to source the chardonnay fruit from Yountville. This is a very crisp style of Chardonnay that they like to say is a “red wine drinker’s white wine”. The lovely bouquet and fresh palate is accomplished by stainless steel fermentation and less than 10% of the wine ageing on neutral French oak.

Olabisi Wines – The chardonnay at Olabisi is vinified with a nod to Traditional Burgundian techniques.

Romeo Vineyards– The Sempre Vive Chardonnay Reserve has aromas of deep rich apple and pear with a hint of nutmeg, allspice, and orange blossom. Its palate is velvet smooth with refreshing apricot and apple flavors and a long savory finish.

Sterling Vineyards – The Vintner Chardonnay has flavors of crisp gala apple, bartlett pear and hints of pineapple, layered by lovely pie spices and toasty vanilla notes.

Summers Estate Wines  – Try the Reserve Chardonnay with a golden color, lovely fragrance and a lush texture revealing pineapple, pear, apple and lemon cream pie. It offers a soft finish of nutmeg and citrus blossom.

Tamber Bey Vineyards – By appointment only, with hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Phone: 707-942-2100

Tank Garage Winery – hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Try the 2015 “Nothing Gold Can Stay” Chardonnay, with gusts of vanilla and citrus aromas that burst from the glass. On the palate, the wine saturates every inch of your mouth with just enough acidity to keep things fresh.

Tom Eddy Winery – Try the 2016 Parcel One “commemorative” Chardonnay, a floral, light and refreshing, easy-to-drink chardonnay. The label depicts a boisterous, 1850s Calistoga.

Vermeil Wines – The Dutton Ranch Chardonnay has aromas of toasted almond and pie crust, softly layered with notes of lavender and beeswax, with a hint of limestone minerality.

Vincent Arroyo – Try the Napa Valley Chardonnay, which is barrel fermented and lightly oaked in a Burgundian style with fresh, crisp, citrus flavors.