Beringer Napa Valley Chardonnay

Tasting notes & discussion 8

Typically $24/bottle from Beringer Winery
Vintage 2023
Available for AL; AR; AZ; CA; CO; CT; DC; FL; GA; ID; IL; IN; IA; KS; KY; LA; ME; MD; MA; MI; MN; MO; MT; NE; NV; NH; NJ; NM; NY; NC; ND; OH; OK; OR; PA; RI; SC; SD; TN; TX; VT; VA; WA; WV; WI; WY
Sold by participating winery or licensee, fulfilled by Wine Country Connect

About Beringer Winery: “In 2026, Beringer Vineyards proudly marks 150 years as Napa Valley’s longest continuously operating winery—a legacy built on vision, craftsmanship and innovation since 1876.”

Stirring With A Stick

TASTING NOTES: “This Chardonnay is refreshing and expressive, opening with aromas of Asian pear that lead into bright citrus notes. The palate is lush yet balanced, showcasing riper tropical flavors of white peach, orange blossom, and creamy lemon meringue. Vibrant acidity carries through a long, mouthwatering finish, accented by refined hints of white pepper and nutmeg. Subtle oak influence adds layers of vanilla and toasted brioche, all seamlessly integrated with the bright Chardonnay fruit. The result is a beautifully balanced, classically styled Napa Valley Chardonnay with finesse and precision.” (AbV 14.5%, pH 3.42, TA 5.8 g/l)

VARIETALS: 100% Chardonnay

BARRELS: Fermented and aged in French oak (30% new); Partial malolactic fermentation

PAIRS WITH: N/A

THAT REMINDS ME OF: The bâtonnage — the lees-stirring technique used to make this Chardonnay creamy and rich.

It’s a French word that comes from bâton, meaning stick or rod. Which means that at its most literal, bâtonnage is just… stirring. With a stick. And yet winemakers say it in a French accent and suddenly it sounds like something you’d find on a spa menu between the hot stone massage and the lymphatic drainage facial. “I’ll take the bâtonnage, please. And can you also do my shoulders?”

This is a deeply human tendency — the power of the right word to transform a mundane act into something that feels artisanal, intentional, almost sacred. “I stir the wine sediment with a stick” becomes “we practice bâtonnage to encourage yeast autolysis and develop textural complexity.” Same activity. Completely different vibe. Surgeons do this too. They don’t say they’re cutting you open and poking around — they say they’re performing a procedure. And frankly, good. Keep using that word. Nobody wants to think about the stick.

Who's buying this?

How are you buying your bottles?

When you use a fancy word for something ordinary, you're usually...

I own it — the right word elevates the whole experience

I own it — the right word elevates the whole experience
I do it at work but feel a little guilty about it

I do it at work but feel a little guilty about it
I'm skeptical of the jargon but secretly love how it sounds

I'm skeptical of the jargon but secretly love how it sounds
I just call things what they are, stick is a stick

I just call things what they are, stick is a stick
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