Napa Valley’s Far Niente has made Chardonnay without malolactic fermentation since 1979, opting instead to preserve as much natural acidity, texture and potential to age as possible from its grapes. Nicole Marchesi, winemaker at Far Niente / Photo courtesy of FarNiente Nicole Marchesi, Far Niente Focused on Freshness and Texture The wine goes from tank to barrel with no yeast additions, allowing native or spontaneous yeast to work its magic instead. “It’s a different version of California Chardonnay, planted to Dijon clones, a cool-climate site, more minerality-focused, steely, slatey and elegant,” says Prichard.Īt this vineyard, the grapes are picked at night and then whole-cluster pressed into the tank without sulfur additions, as Prichard feels the biggest enemy for Chardonnay is oxidation. The site, so well known for Pinot Noir, is an overlooked gem for Chardonnay. Gap’s Crown Chardonnay is a completely different take again. Prichard also makes Durell Origin, a Chardonnay fermented in concrete amphora and egg that undergoes no malo or oak aging. To make Durell Chardonnay, the wine goes through 100% malolactic fermentation and is aged 15 months in French oak, 27% of it new. “People talk about it being a winemaker’s wine and that’s true, but to make truly great Chardonnay, you can’t build it-it comes from the vineyard,” says Prichard. The Chardonnay grapes Prichard gets from across Sonoma County allow him to make very different expressions.

“California has such nice sunshine and the ability to get things ripe, but it’s about finding that balance between texture and the energy provided by the acidity.” “The acidity is so important and sometimes overlooked,” he says. He is drawn to the tension and verve of Chardonnay. Prichard grew up in Northern California and fell in love with wine while at Cornell University, furthering his winemaking studies at the University of California, Davis. Winemaker Ryan Prichard was brought on to the Three Sticks team by local legend and Director of Winemaking Bob Cabral the two had previously worked together at Williams Selyem. Price also owns the Gap’s Crown, Walala, Alana, One Sky and William James Vineyards in Sonoma, all important components of the Three Sticks lineup of Chardonnays. Three Sticks was founded in 2002 by Bill Price, a few years after he purchased the famous Durell Vineyard in Sonoma Valley.

Winemaker Ryan Prichard of Three Sticks Wine / Photo courtesy Three Sticks Wines

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