{"id":293143,"date":"2026-04-30T13:33:15","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T13:33:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/293143\/"},"modified":"2026-04-30T13:33:15","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T13:33:15","slug":"5-essential-california-wineries-for-chardonnay-lovers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/293143\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Essential California Wineries For Chardonnay Lovers"},"content":{"rendered":"

When it comes to white wine, chardonnay is king. It\u2019s the top-selling and most-planted white varietal in California and the United States as a whole. Originating in Burgundy, France, the grape thrives in Northern California\u2019s climate with its coastal breezes and cool foggy nights.<\/p>\n

Both Sonoma<\/a> and Napa<\/a> counties are known for chardonnay excellence, with the wine reflecting the styles of each region. Sonoma is brighter, younger and cooler, while Napa is richer, opulent and structured.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a chardonnay lover looking for a wonderful grape-to-glass experience<\/a>, you can find it on both sides of the Mayacama Mountains. Make a reservation at one of the following wineries \u2014 exceptional pours await<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Chateau<\/p>\n

Chateau Montelena\u2019s picturesque castle is a sight to behold.<\/p>\n

Chateau Montelena Chateau Montelena<\/p>\n

The chardonnay that put California winemaking on the map in a blind tasting in France in 1976 is Chateau Montelena<\/a>\u2019s 1973. The bottle won first place in a competition known as the \u201cJudgment of Paris\u201d that pitted California wines against French varietals. This year marks the 50th anniversary, so when you arrive at the picturesque Calistoga castle, you\u2019ll discover more about the role Chateau Montelena played in the monumental event.<\/p>\n

The property is incredibly beautiful with fragrant rose bushes, a pond and a Chinese garden. Expect to feel instantly relaxed upon arrival. A variety of experiences is offered, from a 45-minute communal bar tasting that accepts walk-ins to a vineyard trek to a 90-minute private library tasting. Book the latter if you want to sample older chardonnay vintages that showcase the brand\u2019s evolution. You\u2019ll learn about ageability and how some releases of this versatile white wine become more complex over time.<\/p>\n

Chateau Montelena is pretty far up the Valley, so if you want to make a night of it, the best place to stay is Solage, Auberge Collection<\/a>, a Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star property boasting one of the wine country\u2019s best pools and spas.<\/p>\n

\"Rombauer<\/p>\n

Rombauer Vineyards makes five crowd-pleasing chardonnays.<\/p>\n

Rombauer Vineyards Rombauer Vineyards<\/p>\n

Rombauer Vineyards<\/a> produces the full-bodied, buttery, oak-forward style of chardonnay that many ABCers \u2014 a colloquial industry acronym for people who drink \u201canything but chardonnay\u201d \u2014 despise. Its creamy lushness was a cult favorite in the \u201990s and 2000s and is still beloved by those who chard hard today. Rombauer\u2019s tagline is \u201cThe Joy of Wine,\u201d because founders Koerner and Joan Rombauer are related to Irma Rombauer, the author of The Joy of Cooking, one of the country\u2019s best-selling cookbooks ever published.<\/p>\n

Perched in the St. Helena AVA, Rombauer\u2019s hilltop tasting room looks over the Napa Valley floor, with vineyard-laced hills unfolding in every direction. Rombauer makes five distinct chardonnays, including one from the Carneros AVA, a proprietary blend and several from vineyards like its Home Ranch.<\/p>\n

Walk-ins are welcome, and it\u2019s one of the few places where you can bring your own picnic. It must be enjoyed outside, but you can set up a tasting to accompany it or ask the Rombauer team to open a few bottles for your party.<\/p>\n

For a splendid overnight stay, the Four-Star Alila Napa Valley<\/a> in St. Helena is a sleek, adult-only retreat just minutes away from Rombauer.<\/p>\n

\"Far<\/p>\n

Far Niente\u2019s stone winery has been in operation since 1885.<\/p>\n

Far Niente Far Niente<\/p>\n

Driving into Oakville\u2019s Far Niente<\/a> is like entering an enchanting fairy world for adults. Tulips and azaleas are blooming. Ferns and trees are everywhere. A pond glistens. There\u2019s also a barn that doubles as a garage and houses the late owner Gil Nickel\u2019s impressive car collection, which includes a pale blue convertible Porsche, a shiny red Alfa Romeo and a vintage British taxi.<\/p>\n

The stone winery has been in operation since 1885, so the property is steeped in rich history. Far Niente is known for its chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon. Taste up to four distinct chardonnays, comparing the prized Coombsville AVA fruit to grapes sourced elsewhere in the Valley. You\u2019ll also sip Dolce, the label\u2019s exquisite late-harvest Sauternes-style dessert wine.<\/p>\n

A tasting comes with a selection of cheese from Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co. and features accouterments (see: castelvetrano olive tapenade, cherry jam and pear butter) made by Far Niente\u2019s chef.<\/p>\n

The team recently remodeled the Great Hall and visitors\u2019 spaces, updating them with Schumacher wallpaper and plush furnishing that add a layer of richness to the experience.<\/p>\n

To enhance your time in the Valley even more, stay at the Five-Star Auberge du Soleil<\/a>, a Mediterranean-influenced getaway with sweeping Valley floor views that\u2019s a 15-minute drive from the vineyard.<\/p>\n

\"Visit<\/p>\n

Visit Flowers Vineyards & Winery for great pours and elevated cuisine.<\/p>\n

Douglas Friedman Flowers Vineyards & Winery<\/p>\n

Enjoy an expression of the Sonoma Coast at Flowers Vineyards & Winery<\/a> in Healdsburg. When the team behind Napa\u2019s Quintessa estate wanted to expand to Sonoma, it started with 20 acres of chardonnay planted along the coast in the late \u201980s.<\/p>\n

The gorgeous tasting room, dubbed the House of Flowers, opened in 2019. It was designed in partnership with Walker Warner Architects and Maca Huneeus Design. A slice of an old redwood tree and stunning artwork illustrate the brand\u2019s ongoing connection to nature, with an elevated, rustic charm.<\/p>\n

Book the Elements of Site tasting, and you\u2019re in for a delightful treat. Sample two chardonnays and two pinot noirs, all paired with delicious bites from the Flowers culinary team<\/a>. While some wineries have prepared plates, Flowers sees itself as a restaurant as well and fires each course, so it comes out hot and ready to taste with your wine.<\/p>\n

On a recent visit, the 2023 Almar Chardonnay was served with a goug\u00e8re stuffed with Dungeness crab, cr\u00e8me fra\u00eeche and Meyer lemon. It was a superb pairing with the soft acidity of the wine perfectly complementing the buttery richness of the crab.<\/p>\n

The best place to stay nearby is the Five-Star Montage Healdsburg<\/a> with its fabulous pool and welcoming bungalows just a 15-minute drive from Flowers.<\/p>\n

\"MacRostie<\/p>\n

MacRostie Winery & Vineyards\u2019 grapes produce more than 15 chardonnays.<\/p>\n

MacRostie Winery & Vineyards MacRostie Winery & Vineyards<\/p>\n

A short drive from Flowers, you\u2019ll come to MacRostie Winery & Vineyards<\/a>, a hilltop tasting room that proudly displays a Pride flag out front. In the heart of the Russian River Valley, MacRostie produces pinot noir and more than 15 distinct chardonnays.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a masterful lesson in terroir as you taste chardonnay from various regions: Carneros, Petaluma Gap and Sonoma Coast. The friendly and informative staff shares details about head winemaker Heidi Bridenhagen\u2019s unique style. She loves to let each vineyard\u2019s grapes shine, making wines that are complex and full of character. The experience is unpretentious and, while it doesn\u2019t necessarily involve food, wine lovers can add a cheese or salumi plate or caviar and potato chips to any tasting.<\/p>\n

Continue your journey at Forbes Travel Guide Recommended Farmhouse Inn<\/a>, only a 20-minute drive from the winery. The property recently debuted a brand-new chef and menu at its Forbes Travel Guide Recommended restaurant<\/a> and unveiled fresh programming such as moon baths and floral readings at its wellness barn.<\/p>\n

MORE FROM FORBES<\/p>\n

MORE FROM FORBESThe Ultimate Travel Guide For The 2026 World CupBy Forbes Travel Guide<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

MORE FROM FORBES12 Marathons Worth Traveling For In 2026By Jennifer Kester<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

MORE FROM FORBESForbes Travel Guide\u2019s 2026 Star Award Winners\u2014Including The World\u2019s First Five-Star CruiseBy Jennifer Kester<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

MORE FROM FORBES5 Best Sparkling Wine Houses In Northern CaliforniaBy Katie Sweeney<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

This article was originally published on Forbes.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"When it comes to white wine, chardonnay is king. It\u2019s the top-selling and most-planted white varietal in California…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":293144,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[124865,7,9,8,4617,124863,124864,124866,8027,266,4090],"class_list":["post-293143","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-california","tag-blind-tasting","tag-california","tag-california-headlines","tag-california-news","tag-chardonnay","tag-chateau-montelena","tag-irma-rombauer","tag-joan-rombauer","tag-napa","tag-northern-california","tag-sonoma"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/293143","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=293143"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/293143\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/293144"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=293143"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=293143"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=293143"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}