Almost by coincidence, the former Dutch racing driver Ben Pon (you know from the Pon family which is an importer of VW, Audi and Porsche, among others) in 1989 acquired a piece of land on the Californian slopes behind Carmel Valley Village. Here he started his Bernardus Winery with the aim of producing wines that rival the largest Bordeaux and Grand Cru's.

The vineyards in the Carmel Valley have been carefully planted with various grape varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Sauvignon Blanc. While the Bordeaux style varieties grow in the Carmel Valley vineyards, the Chardonnay is cultivated in cool maritime climates, namely in the Monterey Bay. Grapes from other California appellations are used to add nuances to the Bernardus blends.

The Bernardus Chardonnay is made from chardonnay grapes which are harvested by hand and then gently pressed. 90% of the Chardonnay is fermented in French oak barrels, about 1/3 of which is new oak. The remaining 10% is fermented in stainless steel barrels.

Bernardus Chardonnay comes from the vineyards in Monterey County and has a light golden yellow color in the glass and intense aromas of white flowers, acacia, exotic fruit. A spicy, round wine with a long and powerful finish and this wine is for the lover of a full Chardonnay with the well-known butter and vanilla notes.