Land of Saints Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County, California

Bright coastal fruit and restrained cellar work define 2022 Land of Saints Chardonnay, a fresh, textural expression drawn from vineyard sites in Santa Maria Valley and Sta. Rita Hills. Native fermentation in neutral barriques keeps oak flavor in the background, while weekly bâtonnage during the first month and 11 months of lees aging build texture without sacrificing the wine's lively acidity. Meyer lemon, white flowers and coastal jasmine meet flinty minerality and subtle tonka-bean spice, with ripe stone fruit filling out the palate. It is a Chardonnay that favors freshness, mineral tension and quiet complexity over overt richness.

Product Details:

• Winemakers/ Owners: Angela Osborne, Jason Osborne and Manuel Cuevas
• Grape Variety: 100% Chardonnay
• Vineyard Sources: Multiple coastal vineyard sites
• Farming: Organically farmed
• Fermentation: Native-yeast fermentation in neutral 59-gallon barriques
• Bâtonnage: Once weekly during the first month
• Aging: 11 months sur lie in neutral barrel
• Alcohol: 13.1%

Sensory Description:

Fresh and aromatic, opening with Meyer lemon, lemon rind and white flowers alongside delicate coastal jasmine and a distinctly flinty mineral note. Ripe nectarine, peach and citrus bring generosity to the palate, while lees aging and bâtonnage contribute a supple, lightly creamy texture without overwhelming the wine's natural freshness. A subtle tonka-bean spice adds complexity beneath the fruit. Lively acidity carries the citrus and stone-fruit flavors through a long, focused finish, balancing California ripeness with mineral tension and restraint.

Winemaker's Background:

Land of Saints Wine Company is the collaborative project of winemakers Angela Osborne, Jason Osborne, and Manuel Cuevas, three friends who met during the 2013 vintage and found common ground in their fascination with California's Central Coast. Angela, originally from Auckland, New Zealand, and Jason, from Cornwall in southwest England, are also behind A Tribute to Grace Wine Company, while Manuel brings extensive experience working with vineyards and wineries across California's Central Coast through C2 Cellars. Their Kiwi, Cornish, and Mexican-American backgrounds converge in a project centered on the diverse vineyard expressions of Santa Barbara County. The Land of Saints name draws from Jason's native Cornwall, historically known by the same name, and from the many California communities carrying San and Santa names. Rather than fixing the project to a rigid set of varieties or vineyards, the trio allows sites and varieties to change between vintages, approaching each wine as an honest expression of the growing season and the place from which it came. Their Chardonnay follows that philosophy through native fermentation, neutral oak and measured lees work designed to build texture while preserving fruit, freshness and site character.

Serving Suggestions:

Its bright acidity, citrus and stone fruit, mineral character and restrained barrel influence make this Chardonnay well suited to seafood, roast poultry and simply prepared dishes where freshness is important. Its combination of texture and acidity also makes it a natural match for richer fish and shellfish preparations.