2019 3 Muses Cellars North Coast, California Chardonnay

Chardonnay is California’s most-planted white wine grape with 93,148 acres reported in 2018. It remains far and away the most popular wine in the United States, and has been the leading varietal wine for the last decade. Chardonnay represented an estimated 18.6 percent of table wine volume purchased in U.S. food stores in 2018.

So much for the statistics. Why is Chardonnay so popular — in particular, Chardonnay from California’s North Coast growing region? Historical references note California plantings dating back to the late 1800s, but production remained limited because of low yields. Today, however, low yields are actually valued because they concentrate flavors in the grapes, resulting in more expressive wines.

So, as vintners like to say, great wines begin in the vineyard, and the 3 Muses Cellars Chardonnay from the 2019 North Coast harvest is a truly tasty treat.