Spotlight Wine: 2015 Sangiacomo Robert’s Road Chardonnay
As one of the most widely planted grapes in the state of California, Chardonnay is one of the most popular wines enjoyed by Americans, according to the Wine Institute. So it was a natural fit when we began sourcing fruit for Sea Bird Wines that we would include this noble grape as part of our family.
Sourced from the Sonoma Coast, our Sangiacomo Robert’s Road vineyard develops into every Chardonnay-lover’s dream. The cool coastal zone of this region maintains a developed acidity and structure that plays gracefully with a kiss of new French oak that we age it in year after year. No other white gape matches Chardonnay’s total acreage in Sonoma County, and with every sip, we understand why this is the ideal region for this wine.
The Sangiacomo Vineyards were first planted to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in 1999 when the Sangiacomo Family acquired the property. At the time, it was unclear as to whether the region would be suitable for grape-growing, as the cool coastal climate was thought to prevent even ripening. Now, the Sonoma Coast region is renowned for producing some of the highest quality Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the US. The perfect counterpart to our Chardonnay is our Sangicomo Robert’s Road Pinot Noir.
Our 2015 Sangiacomo Robert’s Road Chardonnay highlights the best of the vintage. The 2015 growing season in Sonoma brought about a warm, dry spring and an early harvest, according to to the Wine Spectator Vintage Report. The yield was lower than past years, though the quality maintained an elegant and refined style.
You don't have to just take our word for it, however. The 2015 Sangiacomo Robert's Road Chardonnay has won Double Gold medals at the SF Chronicle International Wine Competition, and well as Double Gold & Best of Class in the International Women’s Wine Competition.
With 14 months in new and used French oak barrels, the Robert’s Road Chardonnay is exceptionally balanced with fruit and acidity. Pears, tropical fruits and nectarines are balanced by a dollop of vanilla and honey on the finish for a bright, playful Chardonnay true to the region.
Sea Bird Wines was founded on the belief that coastal influence makes truly great wine. The Sangicomo Vineyards in the Sonoma Coast region exemplifies this belief year over year as we craft true-to-region Chardonnay with bright fruit, lively acidity, and the kind of bottle you can’t wait to enjoy while lounging around with friends on a warm Spring day.
A Recipe For #GreatVinesToGreatTimes
As warmer weather approaches it’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy a fresh meal. This easy crab cake recipe from Pinch and Swirl focuses on a recipe with more crab meat instead of a bread-crumb overload. The fresh seafood influence will parry and play beautifully with the fruit and acidity of our 2015 Sangiacomo Robert’s Road Chardonnay for a light, weeknight meal to enjoy out on the patio with the promise of Spring nipping at our heels!
Ready to sip on some of the most quaffable Chardonnay of the season? Head over to the Sea Bird Wines Shop to snag the last bottles, and if you're lucky, even a magnum. We'll meet you on the patio for a glass, or two.
Sea Bird Wines Takes Double Gold in San Francisco International Wine Competition
Since its inception in 1980, the San Francisco International Wine Competition sets a standard for integrity and impartiality. One of the world’s longest running wine competitions, this year marked the 38th year of blind-tasting, wine-judging, and king-making.
Speaking of kings…we are proud to announce that Sea Bird Wines 2014 Poseidon Cabernet Sauvignon took home a Double Gold this year with a 97 Point score. Appropriately named after the King of Seas, Poseidon is Sea Bird Wine’s signature Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from the prestigious Rutherford Napa Valley AVA.
What’s Double Gold, you ask? It’s like a double win for us! Double Gold is the designation awarded to a select few entries that receive unanimous high ratings from amongst the judges. We are proud to count ourselves in a club that considers this ranking the “finest in the world.”
2014 Poseidon is the wine you want to bring out with your favorite friends around. A quintessential expression of the vintage, aromas of wild berries, caramel and cocoa powder draw you in. Layers of mocha, dark cherries and butterscotch round out a full-bodied palate with polished tannins and enough acidity to keep things interesting.
Head over to our shop to secure your allocation…and if you’re lucky we might still have a few magnums available to really spice things up.
Want to check out more Sea Bird accolades? Read about our 2018 Harvest Challenge win here.