Sandhi, Santa Rita Hills, Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County, CA…$31.99

Sandhi Wines is a collaboration between Raj Parr (one of America’s most lauded sommeliers and consultants), Charles Banks (formerly managing partner at Screaming Eagle) and Sashi Morman (winemaker at Evening Land, Stolpman and Piedrasassi). Since being founded in 2010 the wines have immediately received widespread acclaim – the Wine Advocate said recently “It is quite conceivable that within a few years the Sandhi Chardonnays and Pinots could become reference point, benchmark wines for Santa Barbara, and California, for that matter". 

Parr and Morman are both committed to making quality wines with organically grown fruit and minimal intervention in the winemaking process. 

For example, they use only indigenous yeast found on the skins of the harvested fruit, as opposed to inoculating the grape must with manufactured yeast. They also do not use sulfur in their winemaking, only adding a small amount at bottling.

Santa Barbara is truly one of the most unique places in California to grow pinot noir and chardonnay. You see, the majority of mountain ranges along the South American coast run north to south and protect the nearby vineyards from the ocean’s cool air and fog, keeping the valley floor fruit warm and dry. In Santa Barbara County however, the mountains run east to west and act as a funnel for cool air and fog, creating the perfect growing environment for the ever-fickle to grow, pinot noir and the ever-adaptable, chardonnay. 

The warm days and cool nights help the fruit ripen at a slower pace, allowing the team to select perfectly ripened fruit and adding potential complexity to the finished wines.

Sandhi’s Santa Rita Hills chardonnay is crisp and rich all at once which is never a bad thing in a wine!

It first gives off whiffs of fresh ginger and then crunchy notes of lemon upon first sip.

The wine just keeps going from here as a little oxygen continues to reveal its layers of apple, crushed stone and hints of creaminess to keep it all balanced.

Delicious with fresh white fish, chicken or young goat’s cheese!

And, at just $31.99, for this kind of quality, purity and craftsmanship?

We definitely approve!