Wine of the Month

Artesa Vineyards & Winery

2002 Chardonnay Carneros

Artesa Vineyards & Winery
1345 Henry Road
Napa, CA 94559
707-224-1668
 

Winemaker: Don Van Staaveren

Comment:

The Artesa Chardonnay highlights the characteristics that the Carneros is famous for: tropical fruit and citrus flavors.  This wine shows toasted oak and buttery qualities, and might develop further over the next 2 or 3 years.

Artesa, founded in Napa in 1991, is owned by the Codorníu Group of Barcelona, Spain.  The Codorníu family has been involved in winemaking since 1551, so Artesa is a relatively new venture for them.  Originally a cava (the Spanish rival of champagne) winery, the direction changed in 1997 when the new winemaking team arrived.  Today Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon have also found their place in the winery's lineup.

The winery facility itself is a showplace of modern architecture, with a beautiful vista of the Napa Valley and San Francisco Bay from the terrace.