Tyler Chardonnay, Sta Rita Hills, California

From the cool, windswept vineyards of the Sta. Rita Hills, where Pacific fog meets sun-drenched slopes of limestone and sand, Tyler Winery crafts a Chardonnay of exceptional precision, balance, and energy. This wine reflects winemaker Justin Willett’s meticulous, vineyard-driven, and deeply expressive of the coastal terroir that defines Santa Barbara’s most celebrated appellations.

Product Details:

• Grape Variety: 100% Chardonnay
• ABV: 14.5%
• Farming Practices: Sustainable, with organically farmed vineyard parcels
• Soil Type: Marine sediment, sand, and calcareous clay
• Fermentation: Native yeast fermentation in French oak barrels
• Aging: 10–12 months in French oak (approximately 20–25% new), followed by short bottle aging before release
• Fining/Filtration: Unfined and lightly filtered
• Style: White – Buttery and Complex

Sensory Description:

The Tyler Chardonnay opens with delicate yet focused aromas of white peach, lemon curd, and fresh pear, layered with hints of toasted hazelnut, flint, and subtle oak spice. On the palate, it’s both rich and refined, offering a creamy texture balanced by taut acidity and a saline minerality unique to the Sta. Rita Hills. Notes of baked apple, citrus zest, and brioche unfold toward a long, elegant finish marked by tension and precision. It is a Chardonnay that bridges Burgundian restraint with Californian warmth, supple, pure, and deeply resonant.

Awards & Accolades:

• 95 Points – 2022 Vintage – Vinous Media
• 94 Points – 2021 Vintage – Wine Enthusiast
• Gold – 2023 – San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

Winemaker’s Background:

Founded in 2005 by Justin Willett, Tyler Winery has become one of California’s leading producers of site-specific Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Based in Lompoc, the winery sources fruit from some of the most distinguished vineyards in Santa Barbara County, including Sanford & Benedict, La Rinconada, and Bien Nacido. Willett’s philosophy centers on minimal intervention, native fermentations, and restrained use of oak, allowing each vineyard to express its unique voice. The Tyler Chardonnay exemplifies this ethos: elegant, textural, and unmistakably coastal.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve lightly chilled at 10–12°C (50–54°F) in a Burgundy glass. Excellent with sautéed mushrooms, prawn vindaloo, or roast chicken with lemon and herbs. It also complements Thai pork stir-fry (moo pad prik), grilled fish with tamarind, or creamy risottos.

Polished, layered, and profoundly expressive, Tyler Chardonnay captures the essence of California’s coastal finesse, a wine of quiet power, precision, and enduring elegance that reflects both place and purity of craft.