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Doing Nothing Isn’t Winemaking, Says This Napa Winemaker

Chateau Montelena Winemaker Matt Crafton spoke with Vinepair for their latest segment, focusing on his winemaking philosophy as a contrast to the trend of  “minimal intervention” winemaking. Together with hosts Adam and Zach, Matt elaborates on Chateau Montelena’s focus on craftsmanship, and working to ensure he brings out the absolute best qualities found in the winery’s Calistoga fruit. He also highlights why he believes the Napa Valley remains a top tier, vibrant wine region. Listen to the full episode HERE

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    Chateau Montelena

    Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

    Calistoga, Napa Valley, California

    The Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is Chateau Montelena’s flagship wine and a quality icon of Napa Valley. The winemaking team works obsessively and passionately with each vintage to capture the best expression of their historic terroir. This is a show-stopper that reveals the perfect blend of flavors, aromas and textures to reach the pinnacle of balance.

    Chateau Montelena

    Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Chardonnay 2016

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    A true icon. The Napa Valley Chardonnay is the wine that put Chateau Montelena and Napa Valley at the forefront of the wine world in 1976, in what is now memorialized as “The Judgment of Paris.” To great disbelief, the Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Chardonnay was the top-ranking wine against four white Burgundies and five other California Chardonnays. And as they say, the rest is history.

Related Producers

    Chateau Montelena

    Calistoga, Napa Valley, California

    In 1976 Chateau Montelena put California at the forefront of the wine world. That year a who's-who of the French wine establishment gathered in Paris for a blind tasting of French and American wines. When the scores were tallied, the top-ranking white wine was Chateau Montelena's 1973 Chardonnay. Montelena today continues to be a quality benchmark in Napa Valley, producing some of the finest Cabernet and Chardonnay in California.