Kent Ritchie has owned and farmed his namesake vineyard since the early 1970’s. The vineyard is located just off of River Road at the intersection of Eastside Road and Trenton Road. The location is unique because it sits on a bench at the confluence of the Russian River, the Santa Rosa Plain, and the Laguna de Santa Rosa. Each of these unique geological characteristics influences the “terroir” of the Ritchie Vineyard. The vineyard’s proximity to the Pacific Ocean exposes it to the cool effect of the coastal fog yet at the same time the site’s location allows for ample sunlight once the fog has burned off around noon. The well-drained, sandy, Goldridge Soils are ideal for growing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Finally, the vineyard is planted to, predominately, the Old Wente Selection of Chardonnay which is highly coveted for its low yields and ability to produce an intensely flavored and aromatic wine. It’s an honor to work with such an iconic vineyard

Cold grapes arrive at the winery early in the morning after having been picked at night. Grape clusters are sorted by hand and gently transferred as whole clusters directly into our press to undergo an extremely gentle press cycle lasting 3-4 hours. From the settling tank, the juice is moved to 60-gallon French oak barrels, where fermentation is allowed to occur naturally using only native yeast that come in from our vineyards. Limited battonage is used during the first 2-3 months of fermentation in order to encourage the development of a healthy yeast population. Once fermentation is safely underway the wine is not disturbed until the fermentation is complete, which typically takes about 10-11 months. Final blends are assembled and gently racked to stainless-steel tanks for about 4-6 months.

The 2019 Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay is easily the most graceful edition of this wine we have ever made. With its south-facing aspect in the center of the Russian River Valley appellation, Ritchie Vineyard is known for producing broad, expansive, wildly expressive wines. By capturing and controlling that natural tendency of the vineyard, we can achieve the best of both worlds: a wine with intrinsic richness but also freshness and balance. Reticent at first, the wine opens up to reveal classic Chardonnay notes of toasted brioche, vanilla, sweet cream, and lemon candy. The incredible mouthfeel is a trademark of Ritchie vineyard, and the 2019 vintage is totally on-brand: This wine builds in intensity on the palate over the course of a minute-long finish, culminating in a silky amalgamation of toasted almond, caramelized sugar, and poached peach