Aubry Linda Vista Vineyard Chardonnay Oak Knoll 2023

Crafting fine wines begins in the vineyard, and truly terroir-driven wines require finesse in the vines and cellar, with decision-making focused on showcasing the land versus the winemaker’s stamp. Vintner/winemaker, Dylan Lundstrom of Aubry Wines, has spent his career seeking ways to improve the equipment, techniques, and systems used in grape growing and alleviate the boundaries to operating organically and sustainably as growers.

Dylan graduated from Cal Poly with a Bachelor’s Degree in Viticulture and Enology in 2010 and spent the 2011 and 2012 harvests in New Zealand and Paso Robles. He continued learning at L’Institut Agro Montpellier in France, earning a Master of Science in the same field. Upon graduation, Dylan traveled throughout the country’s wine regions, visiting top producers to study the various techniques they employed in their vineyards. Finally, he settled in Napa in 2014, where he interned with the Fruition Sciences consulting firm to complete his thesis work in vineyard irrigation. In this role and his subsequent role as an Account Manager for Ranch Systems, he worked hand in hand with growers to assess their needs, understand the intricacies of their properties, and troubleshoot the best methodologies and systems available to better the quality of their fruit.

His 2018 harvest with Matthiasson Wines, where he worked in the vineyards and the cellar and observed their implementation of organic practices in Napa, cemented Dylan’s aspirations to venture out independently.  After debuting his brand, Aubry, with a single-vineyard Cabernet from Coombsville, Dylan knew Chardonnay was next on the docket.

Inspired by the fruit Steve grows from Linda Vista Vineyard, Dylan crafted a 100% Chardonnay from the legendary plot in the Oak Knoll District.  The wine underwent native fermentation before aging in neutral French oak barrels for 6 months. After a partial malolactic fermentation, the wine was bottled with a mere 106 cases produced.  A linear, and zippy acidity define this Chardonnay with highlights of tropical fruit and green apple.  The enticing freshness keeps you coming back sip after sip.