In 1997, Merry Edwards Winery was established on a 24-acre fruit orchard in the Russian River Valley. Merry Edwards created a distinctive and unique style based on winegrowing and phenolic research. Merry was inducted into the CIA’s Vintners Hall of Fame in 2013. Merry chose to retire in 2019 wanting her legacy to remain intact. She sold the winery to Maison Louis Roederer. The Champagne house of Louis Roederer is a seventh generation family winery founded in 1776. Merry Edwards is now an esteemed member of the Roederer Collection.

The Olivet Lane Vineyard is located in the western benchland of the Santa Rosa Plane. This single-vineyard was established in 1975 and resides in a cool climate region of gravelly, clay loam soils. This Chardonnay is pale yellow in color and flaunts delicate aromas of white peach and dried apricots. White Melon and star fruits are nicely integrated into a background that has layers of creamy richness and roasted nuts. It continues into a graceful finish.

By W Peter Hoyne