White concepts chardonnay 2022 (Sphera)

Drink now or cellar for up to 7 years. Serve well chilled. Doron Rav Hon studied winemaking in Burgundy and fell in love with the region’s sensational white wines while working as an apprentice at Domaine Jacques Prieur. On his return to Israel it was only natural to found the country’s first boutique winery specialised in white wines with his wife Sima who heads up the operations side of the business. Sphera’s vineyards are planted in the valleys of Givat Yeshayahu where the unique microclimate is perfect for making top quality white wine. The vineyards are planted alongside a stream with cooling breezes following through during the day and cold air sinking to the valley floor at night. This helps to moderate the hot summer temperatures, giving a long ripening period which ensures the grapes have a perfect balance of ripe fruit flavours and refreshing acidity and aromatics. The Chardonnay grapes used for this bottling are grown on limestone and terra rossa or "red soils" which are packed with minerals. Once in the winery 70% of the fruit is fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks with the remainder fermented and aged in French oak barrels for 7 months. The combination of the special terroir and Doron’s minimal interventionist approach to winemaking creates a complex, vibrant Chardonnay that’s bursting with ripe tropical fruit, citrus notes, and hints of toasted oak and spice from the barrel fermentation.