Truchard: Why Carneros is Chardonnay country

Located in California, there is a certain uniqueness to the Truchard vineyards in Carneros.  Spanning both Napa and Sonoma, with the eastern half in Napa, the western half in Sonoma, this American Viticulture Area (AVA) is also one of the oldest and most celebrated in California. It was first planted with grapes in the 1830s, but was only recognized as an official AVA in 1983.

The delay in achieving recognition was due to a combination of the wet, windy and foggy climate, phylloxera, and the prohibition. With many wineries not surviving the prohibition era, and new vineyards struggling in the fierce climatic conditions, it was not until the 1970s that consistent quality could be achieved. However, Truchard is testament to the fact that a difficult period does not have to mean the end of the road.

Cool climate Carneros

Thanks to the region’s proximity to San Pablo Bay, the temperature range here, which rarely rises above 26˚C, has the ability to produce crisp, fresh sparkling wines, bright Pinot Noir, and elegant Chardonnays with crisp acidity. These two varieties also make up about 90% of all production in the Carneros region, with small pockets of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot filling the gap in the slightly warmer areas.

Not only is the cool climate of Carneros ideal for growing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes, but the estate’s unique topography, consisting of hills, ravines, and valleys, also offer many unique parcels of land. Given this topography, elevation of the vineyards vary between 120m and near sea-level in the bay area. The area also enjoys a Mediterranean climate thanks to the moderating effect of the Pacific Ocean, providing long and sunny growing periods.

In addition, the soil types on the estate varies between clay, shale, sandstone, lava rock, and volcanic ash. This diverse landscape allows the winery to grow a range of grape varieties, with optimal growing conditions available for each one.

Of course, it’s Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that steals the spotlight in Carneros, and Truchard produces some excellent examples. Their Chardonnay has an intense nose of pineapple, green apple and honeysuckle, with hints of nutmeg and fig. The mouthfeel is bright and balanced, with flavours of fresh pear, lemon and lime, all culminating in a fresh and vibrant finish. The Pinot Noir has lovely rich aromas of ripe plum, rhubarb, and wild strawberry, with earthy and pomegranate notes. The mouthfeel is silky, with bright flavours of cherries, cranberry, and sweet vanilla. A firm acidity and delicate tannins on the palate provide a lingering finish of spice and red fruit.

A place like no other

As the most Northeastern vineyard in the Carneros region, Truchard is situated on the foothills of the Mayacama mountain range and Mount Veeder. This unique location means that the estate has more warmth and more alluvial soils that supply better drainage, keeping excess moisture away from the roots. 

Nothing is left to chance at Truchard, with each factor carefully considered to determine what grape variety to plant in which pocket of land, based on the various contours and soils. The result of this micro-planning is a mosaic of small vineyard blocks. And while it may look like patchwork from the sky, it is all by design: finding the best spot for the varied varieties, clones, and rootstocks.

Steep hillsides often influence the row direction

The row direction at Truchard is oriented North and South, except where the hillside is too steep to permit such an orientation. This North-South orientation is optimized for the much-needed sun exposure on all vines. The added benefit of this orientation is that the afternoon winds in Carneros blow in a Northern direction up from the bay – right down the rows – which helps to prevent mildew and other diseases. Of course, these perfect growing conditions also mean less intervention is needed in the vineyards or in the winery itself.

The rolling Carneros hills

Currently they grow 12 different grape varieties, making Truchard one of the most diverse estate vineyards in Napa Valley.  Because of the unique climate and soil that exists on the estate, the Truchard family is able to create wines that truly show “a sense of place”.

Volcanic soil brings variety

Truchard is also one of the very few vineyards in the Carneros AVAs that has volcanic soils. The western coastline of the US, where Carneros is located, forms part of the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, which contains between 850 to 1,000 volcanoes.

Volcanic soil at Truchard

The soil type changes due to a fault line running through the northeastern corner of the property, with mainly Carneros clay in the southern sections and volcanic soils from the Mayacamas in the north.

And while it has not been scientifically proven that volcanic soils have any impact on the final wines, there are definite similarities between wines made all over the world in volcanic soils, from California to Hungary. “Our volcanic soils are very important to us,” says Anthony Truchard. “It helps explain our approach to viticulture. These soil types are so important to our story and are why we can do so many varieties on one piece of land.”

Still a family affair

Tony and Jo Ann Truchard

Ultimately, Truchard is a family business with a long history. With the winemaking gene established in the 19^th century in Texas, of all places, it resurfaced in the 1970s in California with Tony Truchard. During a military tour as medical commander for a base near the Nevada border, the family took many roadtrips, ultimately making it to Napa to see the vineyards. This is when he decided that it might be a ‘fun’ challenge to buy some Napa property and to plant a vineyard. Over the following two decades, Tony continued to buy property until he had 280 adjoining ha.

In 1989 the Truchards released the first wines under their own label. Today, Tony and Jo Ann Truchard are still involved in the family business, with their son Anthony at the helm. For him, the wines’ integrity is of the utmost importance, and he devotes every day to keeping it in place.