It was a very hot day, and we were out for dinner. I wanted a buttery Chardonnay, so I chose Gainey Chardonnay 2011. This Gainey Chardonnay fit the dinner and evening very nicely indeed.
Gainey Chardonnay 2011
The producer of Gainey Chardonnay 2011, Gainey Vineyards, are located in the Santa Ynez Valley, CA is owned and operated by the Gainey family. Gainey Ranch and Winery was first established in the early 1980s, by Dan J. Gainey and his son. Their winery quickly became one of the most popular wineries to visit in the Santa Ynez Valley and remains so today. In addition to their three vineyards, the Gainey family has an Arabian horse operation and produce organically grown fruits and vegetables.
The goal of the Gainey Vineyards is to create wines of uncompromising quality. They do this to ensure their wine reflect the unique characteristics of each vineyard and the area, the grapes are grown.
Santa Ynez Valley and wine region are located in the northern part of Santa Barbara County California. It is just 35 miles Santa Barbara, 125 miles up the coast from Los Angeles and 300 miles south of San Francisco. While there it worth touring the many wonderful wineries that are in the area and their charming historic villages of Los Olivas, Santa Ynez, and Solvang. It is a popular destination not only for the wines but also for the flower farms, many recreational activities such as horseback riding and their ever-popular bed and breakfasts. With its easily going style, it truly is a fun place to go and relax.
The Gainey family was the first to own vineyards and ranch properties in the warm and eastern ends of the Santa Ynez Valley. Their forward thinking in regard to wine making and the areas they choose, gave them a unique opportunity, allowing them completely control all phases of the grape cultivation and winemaking process. They feel a strong connect to the land that is in their stewardship.
To quote Dan Gainey:
“We consider our vineyards and the wines we make from them an expression of the love we have for our land and this beautiful area of California.”
In addition to producing premium wines, they have a number of annual events, including winemaker dinners, cooking classes, and an annual Crush Party. Their Tasting Room is open daily for tours and sip their current offerings. They also encourage visitors to take advantage of the scenic picnic area to relax and enjoy their current offerings.
This is what the winemaker has to say about this Gainey Chardonnay:
“No one ever said wine-growing was easy. On the heels of the cool 2010 vintage, we endured an even chillier growing season in 2011, one characterized by a severe spring frost, diabolically windy conditions during flowering, and a consistently cool, foggy summer, culminating in mid-September squalls. Fortunately, the wine gods turned compassionate and produced a picture-perfect late September and October, which fully ripened our Chardonnay grapes and, coupled with a small crop, ensured they were harvested with impressively concentrated, balanced flavors.
Consequently, our 2011 Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay is a sumptuous, mouthfilling wine boasting fresh, creamy aromas of pear, honeyed yellow apple, white peach, bright citrus, and mineral, with a light coating of butter and seductively spicy oak tones. The palate is brimming with round, viscous flavors of ripe yellow apple, nectarine and lemon-lime fruit, with mineral, spice and toasty oak notes surfacing in the long, succulent finish. Bottled in August 2012, this stripling will unfold fully with another 4-5 months of bottle age and should drink beautifully over the next 2-3 years.”
You can find Gainey Chardonnay 2011 on their website, wine.com and any fine wine purveyor.
Gainey Chardonnay 2011 was a light and refreshing wine to accompany my wonderful sea scallop dinner with and my husband. I would encourage you seek it out and give it a try.
Time for a glass…
If you enjoyed reading about “Gainey Chardonnay,” check out Sebastiani Chardonnay, La Crema Chardonnay, and Cycles Gladiator Pinot Grigio 2011.