His And Hers Chardonnays Compete And Charm At Chalk Hill Winery

Over the past decade Americans have continued their love affair with Chardonnay, making it the #1 white wine varietal sold in the U.S. in both volume and dollar value. According to NielsenIQ, the value of chardonnay sold in the U.S. was $2.7 billion over the past 52 weeks (ending Sept. 10, 2022) – making it nearly double the amount achieved by runner-up, Pinot Grigio, at $1.5 billion in the same time frame. Perhaps part of the appeal of Chardonnay is the fact that it can be made in different styles, such as the unique ‘His and Hers’ Chardonnays featured at Chalk Hill Winery in Sonoma County, California.

“Our owners, Bill and Carole Ann Foley, both enjoy Chardonnay,” stated Michael Beaulac, Senior Winemaker at Chalk Hill Vineyard, in a recent estate interview and vineyard tour. “Bill prefers the big, complex, and rich style with 100% new oak barrel aging; whereas Carole Ann enjoys a fresh, crisp, fruit-forward style. So we produce both styles here – a his and hers Chardonnay.”

This ability of the Chardonnay grape to reflect both vineyard terroir and winemaking style is part of its vast appeal for consumers. According to a research study of more than 400 California consumers, conducted by Curtis Mann, MW, Group Vice President for Alcohol at AlbertsonsACI
, consumers are roughly divided into four styles of Chardonnay lovers: 1) Lean-Crisp style with less or no oak (22%); 2) Pure-Oak style with nutty toasty flavors (22%); 3) Buttery-Oak style with creamy mouthfeel, and nutty, buttery notes (21%); and 4) a Pure-Butter style that is fuller-bodied with cream and butter notes (15%). The remaining 20% could not list a preference.

Chalk Hill Winery Celebrates 50 Years of Producing Estate Chardonnay

These four distinctive styles of Chardonnay can be found in many different wine brands, but when it comes to the ability to produce top-quality Chardonnay, few wineries in American can match the 50 year history of Chalk Hill. “Chalk Hill was founded in 1972 by Fred and Peggy Furth, and the Foley’s acquired it in 2010,” explained Beaulac. “From the very beginning the focus was on Chardonnay. Today we have 134 acres of Chardonnay vines on steep hillsides and bottom land near the river. We have been producing Chardonnay for such a long time that UC-Davis was able to certify that we have our own distinctive estate Clone 97, that no one else has.”

Beaulac gestured to vast hillsides of vines, organized in well-manicured rows and marching into the distance. The estate also includes 1300 acres of undeveloped land, and is home to abundant wildlife. “We have mountain lion, deer, wild pigs, coyote, bobcats and many different birds here,” continued Beaulac. “We are also certified sustainable by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance.”

Chalk Hill boasts a timeline of famous winemakers over the years, including David Ramey, Bill Knuttel, Lisa Bishop-Forbes, Darrel Holbrook, and others (see Figure 1). Beaulac joined Chalk Hill in 2021, bringing 30 years of winemaking experience from his positions at Pine Ridge, Murphy-Goode, Merry Edwards, St. Supery, and other California wineries.

“Each of us has brought something new to the table,” explained Beaulac, “but our main goal is to let the unique aspects of this special place shine through. Bill Foley has Chardonnay in his veins, and that is at the heart of this historic estate.”

The Different ‘Tastes’ of Chalk Hill Chardonnay Terroir

When Bill and Carole Ann Foley requested different styles of Chardonnay, the first action the winemakers took was to determine which vineyard blocks on the estate would best reflect the style they preferred. “We are continually tracking which parts of the estate produce the highest quality and unique taste profiles, due to the soil and micro-climates. For the type of Chardonnay wine that Bill Foley prefers, we have identified “The Founder’s Block.”

This block is on a steep hillside and is primarily made up of Arbuckle soil. It produces rich, complex, rounded wines with flavors of ripe pear, baked apple, and baking spices. It is only produced during top vintages and retails for $100 per bottle.

“For Carol Ann’s preferred style we use Chardonnay grapes from our Oak Hill Block, which is at a lower elevation near the river,” reported Beaulac. “It has both Felta and Arbuckle soil, and produces wines that are fresh and crisp, with fuji apple, lemon and a longer acid finish.” The suggested retail price point is $85.

Both wines are made with 100% native yeast from the estate, and undergo barrel aging, but The Founder’s Estate is aged in 100% new French oak barrel for 13 months, while the Carol Ann’s Oak Hill Block is aged in older French oak so it doesn’t have such a strong oak profile. They taste distinctly different, and visitors to the estate enjoy trying both and deciding which style of Chardonnay they prefer the best.

However, there are also 3 other special Small Block Chalk Hill Chardonnays from different parts of the vineyard. All are priced at $85 per bottle, and include:1) Little Patch, which is more creamy with medium body, guava pear, and toasty oak; 2) Felta, which boast a bright acidity, fresh minerality, and notes of nectarine, peach and vanilla, and 3) Wright Creek, which is very luxurious and full-bodied with baked pear, apple, and lemon custard notes. All of the small block wines are produced in limited quantity.

Chalk Hill also produces a lower-priced Estate Chardonnay (starting at $36), made from a blend of different Chardonnay blocks. In addition, they produce their Sonoma Coast Chardonnay ($26), which is available online, as well as at fine wineshops and gourmet grocery stores.

Future Directions and Charitable Giving at Chalk Hill Winery

The Foley family spend much of their time at the Chalk Hill Estate, and daughter, Courtney Foley, has recently taken the title of 2^nd Generation Vintner. Chalk Hill Winery is part of the larger Foley Family Wines, which currently includes a portfolio of 24 different wineries in California, Oregon, Washington and New Zealand.

In addition to his winemaking interests, Bill Foley owns the Vegas Golden Knights, and is Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors for Fidelity National FinancialFNF
Inc. (NYSE: FNF). He believes in giving back to educational and community organizations, and serves on several charitable boards.

Each summer the Foley Family hosts the ‘Soiree Blanc Party’ at Chalk Hill where guests are invited to wear all white clothing and drink white wines. During the event, guests have a chance to sample the many different Chardonnay wines made on the estate, along with fine cuisine and dancing.