Freaky Friday Case (Cali Chardonnay)

Most folks are familiar with the husband-and-wife operation at Trefethen that has been in Oak Knoll since 1973. Since they re-established the original winery from 1886, Janet and John Trefethen have done an incredible job with their gorgeous 400+ acre estate, which boasts the only wooden gravity-flow winery in the entire region. It’s truly an incredible operation to see.

Whether it’s their award-winning Napa Valley Cabernet or the Dragon’s Tooth Red Blend that we snuck out earlier this year, there is always a well-structured, layered wine that deserves your attention. With the family’s estate Chardonnay, they once again beg the question: Why can’t other people in Napa make a Chardonnay this good at a price this low?!?

Of the 440 acres of sustainably farmed vineyards, around 30% is Chardonnay grown in the cool-climate Oak Knoll AVA. Janet has been a champion of Oak Knoll ever since she got the AVA approved. The 440 acres are broken into 49 vineyard blocks with distinctive soil types, making this a special place to make wine.