ABOUT THIS WINE
For the Roman poet Virgil, ARCADIA was celebrated as a place
of pastoral simplicity, where inhabitants lived in close harmony
with nature. In southern Napa Valley, at the foot of Mt. George,
a 128-acre parcel revealed itself in a similar way to the Winiarski
family, who purchased the land in 1996 and named it ARCADIA
VINEYARD. This vineyard produces Chardonnay similar to classic
Burgundian Chablis. From the first release with the 1998 vintage,
it has won accolades for its combination of alluring perfume,
delicate fruit, vibrant minerality, and understated oak.
TASTING NOTES
As fragrant and lively as a spring day, the 2006 ARCADIA VINEYARD
Chardonnay fills the glass with aromas of lemon chiffon, white peach,
and wildflower honey. These lovely aromas weave into flavors of
apple, pear, and citrus notes that are joined by a flinty, mineral core
that cleanses the palate.
This wine is just as refreshing on its own, as an aperitif, as it is paired
with crab cakes and lemon aioli on a bed of micro greens, or corn soup
with sautéed scallops.
VINEYARDS AND WINEMAKING
Located on a strand of gently rolling hills, ARCADIA VINEYARD
is comprised of gravelly silt loam soils formed in part by an ancient
inland lake. Cool to moderate temperatures prevail here in this
vineyard just east of the town of Napa. The flinty, citrus-spiked
?ngerprint of this vineyard-designated Chardonnay originates from
the vineyard’s climate and soil structure—which includes deposits
from crushed shells. With such beautiful fruit coming from this
vineyard, we show restraint in our winemaking practices—exercising
minimal use of malolactic fermentation and aging the wine in older
barrels that impart little to no oak character to the wine. In this
way, we showcase the distinctiveness of this vineyard site.
VINTAGE
Flooding kicked off the New Year in Napa Valley, which made for
great news headlines, but caused no damage to dormant vines. Cool,
wet weather delayed bud break by a few weeks, but by early June,
the sun came out and vines began to bloom and set fruit. In mid-
July, a record-setting heat wave lasted about ten days, which helped
the vines catch up to a “normal” place in the typical growing season.
Seasonal and somewhat cooler weather returned in August, with a
mild weather pattern continuing throughout the fall that allowed
for moderately paced, deliberate ripening and a long harvest period.
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RETAIL PRICE
$50
per bottle
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