Cultivar Chardonnay
Small-lot California Chardonnay, poured in Commack for years.
The story behind Cultivar
Cultivar Wine was founded in 2010 by siblings Jody Harris and Gingy Harris Gable, whose family bought land on the Rutherford Bench in 1962, now Caspar Estate. The name is the botanical word for a plant variety bred for specific traits, and that is the whole idea here: match grape to microclimate. The Chardonnay fruit comes from cooler sites, Oak Knoll District and Oakville in Napa Valley or Santa Barbara County, depending on vintage.
Consulting winemaker Julien Fayard, who worked at Chateau Lafite Rothschild before California, splits the aging. Past vintages ran half barrel-fermented in French oak and half in clay amphorae, with daily lees stirring during fermentation. Small lots, often under 200 cases. We have poured this style on Jericho Turnpike for a long time, and it still tastes like a deliberate wine, not a formula.
Explore the Cultivar range
Cultivar works in tiny lots, so the lineup shifts by vintage. These are the Chardonnay expressions the label is known for, from bright Santa Barbara to the rare Oakville tier.
| Expression | Type | Proof / ABV | Tasting notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cultivar Oak Knoll Chardonnay (Napa Valley) | Barrel and amphora aged Chardonnay | About 27 to 28.2 proof (13.5 to 14.1% ABV) | Midweight, balanced freshness, elegant orchard fruit, touch of oak |
| Cultivar Santa Barbara Chardonnay | Clay amphora aged Chardonnay | 27.2 proof (13.6% ABV) | Bright minerality, crisp stone fruit, structural complexity |
| Cultivar Oakville Chardonnay (Napa Valley) | Napa Valley Chardonnay | About 27.6 proof (13.8% ABV) | Rarest tier, deep fruit from Napa River proximity |
| Cultivar Chardonnay 750mL | California Chardonnay | See bottle label | The bottle we stock, classic richness with crisp finish |
| Cultivar Sauvignon Blanc 750mL | California Sauvignon Blanc | See bottle label | Same house, brighter white, citrus driven |
| Cultivar Cabernet Sauvignon 750mL | California Cabernet Sauvignon | See bottle label | Red side of the portfolio, dark fruit and structure |
Which Cultivar is right for you?
Cultivar Chardonnay 750mL sits at $19.99 on our shelf, which is honest money for a small-lot California white made with this much attention. The Sauvignon Blanc runs $17.98 and the Cabernet Sauvignon $24.98 if you want to build a mixed case around it. Estate bottlings from the winery's own tiers, Oak Knoll, Santa Barbara and Oakville, sell in the $38 to $50 range elsewhere. Call us at (631) 343-7200 for current stock, since small lots move.
Real Chardonnay texture at $19.99, not a butter bomb, easy to open Tuesday.
Barrel and amphora balance handles roast chicken and scallops without overpowering.
Rarest Chardonnay tier, under 200 cases, worth laying down a bottle.
Cultivar cocktails and pairings
Serve Cultivar Chardonnay at 48 to 53 degrees, not ice cold, so the oak and orchard fruit show. Roast poultry, risotto and shellfish all work.