In the Oak Knoll district of California’s Napa Valley, we come upon Trefethen Vineyards–one of only a small handful of family wineries remaining today in California’s most celebrated and best-known wine growing region. Since the 1960’s, this family company has been an important participant in the evolution and maturation of the Napa Valley as one of the world’s truly iconic terroirs–becoming an important source for some of California’s highest quality and sought-after estate wines. Trefethen can proudly boast that they have never purchased a single outside grape to produce their wines, with 100% of the fruit needed coming from vineyards they own and farm. Today, their estate includes: 63 distinct vineyard blocks, growing nine different grape varieties, on 10 different rootstocks, and 49 different grape clones (13 of which are Chardonnay and 10 different clones of Cabernet Sauvignon). This continued emphasis on diversity, evolution, and constant improvement is an excellent indication that the future of Trefethen Family Vineyards will be every bit as dynamic and relevant as its storied past.

Napa Valley, located in northern California, is one of the world’s most celebrated wine regions, renowned for its exceptional quality and diversity. The climate is predominantly Mediterranean, with long, warm, sunny days and cooler nights moderated by breezes from San Pablo Bay. This diurnal temperature shift allows grapes to ripen fully while retaining freshness and acidity. Rainfall is concentrated in winter, with summers typically dry, creating ideal conditions for viticulture.

The valley’s soils are remarkably varied, ranging from volcanic ash and lava to gravel, clay and alluvial deposits. This diversity provides a wide array of terroirs, each lending distinctive character to the wines produced. Cabernet Sauvignon is Napa’s flagship grape, yielding structured, full-bodied wines with flavours of blackcurrant, plum, cedar and spice. Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Zinfandel and Petit Verdot also thrive, contributing to complex Bordeaux-style blends.

White varieties, notably Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, are equally successful. Chardonnay often shows ripe tropical fruit balanced by citrus and toasty oak, while Sauvignon Blanc offers zesty, herbal freshness. Overall, Napa Valley wines are celebrated for their richness, intensity and depth of flavour, yet with balance and finesse, making the region a benchmark for New World winemaking.

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.