Haarmeyer Wine Cellars is a Sacramento-based family winery producing exciting wines that highlight northern California terroir through the medium of the chenin blanc grape. Founder Craig Haarmeyer began in 2008 with fruit from a vineyard near Galt, CA, drawn to Portuguese and Spanish varieties, which he felt would be well suited for the dry climate. Joined by his family members Alex, Kelly, and Marian, chenin blanc soon became their specialty. The Haarmeyers source their chenin from six vineyards: three in the Sacramento River Delta, one in eastern Lodi, and two in the Sierra Nevada foothills. A delicious example of “Sacramento Terroir,” this ‘St. Rey’ is made from chenin harvested from younger vines planted on the sand and clay soils of the Sutter Ranch Vineyard in the southern part of the Clarksburg AVA. Here the marine breezes temper the river delta’s summer heat and preserve the wine’s natural acidity. Haarmeyer works exclusively with organically grown fruit and uses as little intervention in the cellar as possible. Grapes are foot trodden, basket pressed, then exposed to oxygen and fermented spontaneously with ambient yeast in neutral large format barrels, where the wine remains until bottling, which occurs without fining and with coarse filtration only when necessary. Vibrant, fresh notes of lemon, green herb, and chalky minerals linger alongside a delicately creamy texture on the palate. Refreshing and balanced, it pairs beautifully with a variety of foods, but especially shines when partnered with seafood! Organically grown, low-intervention/natural wine, vegan. *Natural and Organic
