Kokomo Winery is based in Healdsburg, Sonoma County, and was founded by Randy and Cheryl Peters alongside winemaker Erik Miller.

The winery takes its name from Randy’s hometown of Kokomo, Indiana, and focuses on expressing the character of Sonoma’s diverse vineyard sites.

Peters Vineyard, in West Sebastopol, is a particularly important source for the estate, planted on rich Goldridge sandy loam and cooled by the persistent coastal fog that rolls through the Russian River Valley.

The Chardonnay vines are more than 40 years old and Kokomo has refined its approach over time to build texture and minerality while preserving freshness.

The winery describes its goal for the Peters Vineyard Chardonnay as restrained complexity and balance, resulting in a distinctly Californian wine with plenty of elegance and food-friendly acidity.

Sonoma County, located in Northern California, is one of the United States’ most diverse and respected wine regions. Its varied climate is shaped by both coastal influences and inland warmth, creating a patchwork of microclimates ideal for different grape varieties. The fog and cool breezes from the Pacific Ocean temper the heat of the interior valleys, allowing for a long, balanced growing season.

The soils are equally varied, ranging from volcanic and alluvial to loamy and sandy types, each contributing unique character to the wines. This diversity supports over sixty grape varieties, with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay thriving in the cooler Russian River Valley, while Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Zinfandel excel in the warmer Alexander and Dry Creek Valleys.

Sonoma wines are celebrated for their balance and sense of place. Pinot Noirs are elegant, with bright red fruit, earthy undertones and refreshing acidity. Chardonnays range from crisp and mineral to rich and buttery, depending on winemaking style. Cabernet Sauvignons tend to be structured and complex, often with cassis, plum and cedar notes, while Zinfandels are bold, spicy and full of blackberry fruit.

Together, the climate, soils and grape diversity make Sonoma County a region of remarkable breadth, producing wines of distinctive character and flavour.

Chardonnay is one of the world’s most popular and versatile white grape varieties, originating from the Burgundy region of France. It is a relatively adaptable vine, thriving in a range of climates and soil types, making it widely planted across the globe. Chardonnay ripens early to mid-season and is known for its ability to express terroir, as well as respond well to a variety of winemaking techniques, including oak ageing and malolactic fermentation.

Today, Chardonnay is grown in nearly every major wine-producing country. In France, it shines in Burgundy’s Chablis (crisp, mineral-driven) and Côte de Beaune (rich, complex), and is also a key component of Champagne. In the New World, regions like California, Australia (Yarra Valley, Margaret River), New Zealand, and Chile produce diverse expressions, ranging from lean and citrusy to full-bodied and buttery.

Cool-climate Chardonnays tend to show green apple, lemon, and flinty notes, while warmer regions yield riper flavours like tropical fruit, peach, and melon. Oak-aged Chardonnays may exhibit vanilla, toast, and nutty characteristics, while unoaked versions highlight freshness and purity of fruit.

This remarkable flexibility makes Chardonnay a favourite among winemakers and wine lovers alike, offering a wide spectrum of styles and flavours.