Get to know one of the world’s most popular wines while never leaving Anaheim
Do your eyes gloss over when looking over a wine list? Do you usually throw out “give me a house red” to avoid the agony of figuring out which wine to order?
Whenever you are intimidated, remember that wine is first meant to be enjoyed. The winemaker appreciates you enjoying his/her wine as much as they do your friend who is a wine aficionado.
It also helps to learn about wine in small portions. And with three expert purveyors of wine all within CtrCity Anaheim, you can try a new varietal each visit. You can even ask the experts at Bxcr Wine Bar, Colony Wine Merchant, and Pali Wine Co. to curate a tasting around a particular dish or style.
This month, we focus on Chardonnay, one of the most produced types of wine in the world. Generally, Chardonnay refers to the specific type of grape but refers to clones as well. Each of our local merchants carries this style, and as Chardonnay is a grape variety known for its adaptability, you are bound to find a favorite or two, or three!
Tuck into a cozy corner of Bxcr Wine Bar’s authentic 1920s train boxcar and ask for an Olivier Leflaive Bourgogne 2015 Chardonnay. Grown on a family estate in central France, it’s available by the glass, carafe or bottle. Bxcr also has a couple of Argentine Chardonnays on its menu along with a couple of Pinot Noir/Chardonnay blends. Bxcr is known for their fun and innovative events that further help to take the stuffy out of wine culture. Upcoming is Let It Brie a wine and cheese pairing sent from the tastebud gods.
Colony Wine Merchant highlights small, family-owned West Coast wines. Among their Chardonnay selection is a Pine Ridge “Dijon clone.” A clone is a vine grown from an original “mother vine” selected for certain characteristics made by natural mutations. This 2015 selection comes from a sustainable estate vineyard in Napa valley and is available in a 3 oz, 6 oz glass or a bottle. Colony also has a wine club called The Wine Colony. As a member you receive four wines, six times a year and can attend special release parties.
Pali Wine Co. has its wineries in California’s central coast where it produces 20,000 cases a year. Their 2016 Pali Estate Vineyard Chardonnay is sourced from their 50-acre Gypsy Canyon vineyard first planted in 2012. It’s barrel-aged and barrel-fermented in new and French oak for 14 months and then bottled in 2018. A less pricey option is the lighter and fruitier Charm Acres Chardonnay. As a wine club member,Pali’s latest releases show up directly to your doorstep. You will also be invited to tasting events because wine is always better shared!
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