Chardonnay

Warren and Gail Dutton bought their first 35 acres west of the town of Graton and planted it to French Columbard in 1964. Their first sale from that vineyard brought them $88 a ton, and a new family business was born. In 1967, they sold their first Chardonnay harvest, and began adding more vineyards to their plantings, including the Rued Vineyard, which was planted in 1969.

Chardonnay grapes from Russian River Valley have a very distinctive character: bright acidity and citrus flavors with stone fruit notes. So high is the acid, in fact, that even after full malolactic fermentation, the levels are still higher than most Napa Chardonnay the day it is brought in.

Each year, we make a Dutton Ranch Chardonnay, which blends several Dutton Ranch vineyards into a wine that is our vision of a classic Russian River Valley Chardonnay. Since 1999, we have also produced a single-vineyard Chardonnay from the exotic and unique Rued Vineyard as well.