Best Chardonnay: La Crema Winery

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“Having an expansive vineyard source gives us a broad flavor and aroma profile to put the wines together from.” —Craig McAllister, winemaker, La Crema Winery

Located in a historic barn dating back to 1900 at the famous Saralee’s Vineyard, the La Crema estate offers sweeping views of the Russian River Valley. Two hundred acres of vineyards surround the property, graced by a backdrop of oak trees.

The Russian River Valley is one of the top-ranked wine regions for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and La Crema upholds this standard. Since its founding in 1979, La Crema has been regarded as one of the pioneers of cool-climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir production in its region of the Russian River Valley.

Since joining Jackson Family Wines in 1993, La Crema has expanded its flavor profile of Chardonnay by sourcing fruit from multiple vineyard sites in the Sonoma Coast region, from Los Carneros to Annapolis. “Having an expansive vineyard source gives us a broad flavor and aroma profile to put the wines together from,” says Winemaker Craig McAllister. Originally from New Zealand, he has been with La Crema since 2007 and was promoted to head winemaker in 2017.

The size of the appellation allows for a variety of flavors and textures to manifest in the wine. The Sonoma Coast Chardonnay is fruit-forward, with notes of green apple, citrus, pear, pineapple and green melon. “This wine has a lot of layers. It’s nice and expressive, showcasing the fruit that we’re growing in our vineyards,” says McAllister.

While sourcing the best fruit is the most important element, according to McAllister, the winemaking process also plays an influential role in creating a well-rounded wine. “The wine is 90% fermented in barrel and 10% in stainless steel tanks, which gives it a lovely blending option and helps elevate and pop some of the fresh fruit characters,” says McAllister. The barrel fermentation is only 17% new oak, with the remainder being a mix of barrel ages. “We’re not trying to showcase the oak part of the wine,” he says. “We’re trying to showcase the fruit, so the oak is there in a supporting role in terms of what you can smell and taste, but it’s amazing what the barrel fermentation will do in terms of texture—bringing roundness and richness to the wine.”

Craig McAllister

When asked what makes La Crema’s Chardonnay stand apart from others, McAllister says, “It comes back to the fruit sourcing we have, and consistency as well. We strive for one vintage to be very similar to the previous vintages. We are consistent and we’re putting wine into the bottle that people are familiar with and can trust.” It is this consistency that makes La Crema an esteemed brand in the wine world, with visitors from across the U.S. and throughout the world.

“This is a 43-year-old winery that’s been very successful, and we’re always searching out what’s next as well,” says McAllister, whether it involves searching out a new vineyard site or exploring new varietals. But first and foremost, La Crema is committed to maintaining the consistency and quality of its wines. “It’s a mixture of continuing with the old and having one eye open for what’s coming,” says McAllister. “It makes it easy to get out of bed in the morning.”

lacrema.com

[Photos courtesy of La Crema]

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