# Sanford & Benedict Chardonnay (2018)

- **Producer:** Racines Wine
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Chardonnay
- **Region:** California, United States
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 12.7%
- **Average price:** €76
- **Contains sulphites:** No
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 10–13 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** white peaches, green apples, lemon, hazelnuts, brioche

## About this wine

The Racines Sanford & Benedict Chardonnay 2018 is a white wine from the Sta. Rita Hills appellation in Santa Barbara County, California, made from 100% Chardonnay grapes. It is produced by Racines, a project founded by French winemakers Étienne de Montille, Brian Sieve, and Rodolphe Péters, marking their first international endeavor. The grapes are sourced from the historic Sanford & Benedict Vineyard, which features some of the oldest ungrafted vines in the region, planted as early as 1971. The vineyard is situated on a north-facing slope with lean soil composed of schist and quartz. This wine represents a fusion of Burgundian and Champagne winemaking philosophies with the distinctive terroir of the Sta. Rita Hills.

## Interesting facts

- Grapes sourced from one of Sta. Rita Hills' oldest vineyards (planted 1971).
- Features ungrafted rootstock, a rarity in modern viticulture.
- Winemakers hail from Burgundy and Champagne, France.
- Vineyard soil is rich in schist and quartz.

## Food pairing

The wine's bright acidity cuts through the richness of creamy sauces and fatty fish, while its nuanced fruit notes complement the delicate flavors of seafood and poultry. Herbal elements in the food can echo the wine's minerality and subtle oak influence.

## Wine making process

The Racines Sanford & Benedict Chardonnay 2018 is produced using 100% Chardonnay grapes. The must was fermented in a mix of French oak barrels, including 20% new oak, with capacities of 500, 350, and 228 liters. Following fermentation, the wine aged for 12 months on its lees in barrel. It then underwent an additional 6 months of aging in tank. The grapes were harvested by hand.