Ferrari-Carano’s marketing strategy called for a flagship Chardonnay with its own distinct style. In order to stave off challenges from several highly-anticipated new labels from competing wineries, development time available was less than a year.
Create a multi-layered, complex style of Chardonnay that was distinctive from its competitors.
Previously not a practice in California winemaking, Bursick created variables based upon terroir characteristics and yeast flavor profiles, which allowed for distinct handling of different lots and greater creativity in the blending process. Barrels were obtained from Burgundian coopers who had never exported to the United States.
One of the most successful Chardonnays ever created in California. Case growth from 0-150,000, allocated, with twenty years of 90+ point scores from the Wine Spectator.