Description
In our pursuit to make the finest Californian Chardonnay we could, my dad Chuck Wagner planted our first chardonnay vines in 1988 in the Santa Lucia Highlands appellation of Monterey County. This would go on to become a small winery with a single vineyard bottling called Mer Soleil. We increased our vineyard little by little by planting to achieve the highest quality. The name meaning “sea sun” is fitting, as the Monterey Bay is nearby so the climate is highly influenced by the Pacific Ocean and the sun seems to never stop shining on this vineyard. From the outset, the clones of Chardonnay were chosen for low yield and high quality, with the goal to produce a rich, balanced and complex white wine. The Santa Lucia Highlands sits on east facing terraces overlooking the Salinas River Valley. During the growing season, warmer temperatures of inland California pulls ocean air and fog into the valley just below the Mer Soleil vineyard location. The Monterey Bay actually cools the entire Salinas Valley protecting the vines from California’s potential heat spikes that can be devastating for Chardonnay. This appellation is known for the wild daily winds running through it at the clip of 20 miles per hour. These conditions have a “slow ripening” effect on the grapes and encourage higher quality wine. Santa Lucia Highlands is arguable one of the best regions in the world for producing Chardonnay
