Non-Malolactic Fermentation and the Far Niente… | Far Niente

98 pt & Wine Enthusiast Top 100 | 2019 Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville

Non-Malolactic Fermentation and the Far Niente Chardonnay House Style

07.29.19

Far Niente Chardonnay House Style

Non-malolactic fermentation. Although the phrase doesn’t roll easily off the tongue, Chardonnays made without it certainly can. And it’s essential to our Far Niente Chardonnay house style.

In 1979, when we bottled our very first wines, we decided to forego malolactic fermentation in our Napa Valley Chardonnay. It’s been a part of our house style that we’ve refined ever since.

If you’re not familiar with the phrase, malolactic fermentation (ML) is a secondary fermentation that occurs in wine. It can occur after or in tandem with a wine’s primary fermentation (aka, the process of turning sugar into alcohol that all wines undergo). As its name implies, malolactic fermentation is the conversion of naturally occurring malic acid found in grapes to lactic acid. Most red wines, including Far Niente Cabernet, undergo this conversion. In addition, certain strains of malolactic bacteria (the little guys responsible for this fermentation) can produce a byproduct, diacetyl, that contributes the buttery aromas and flavors found in many Chardonnays.

Below, Far Niente Winemaker Nicole Marchesi talks about why we prefer to make our Napa Valley Chardonnay without ML:

“Our Chardonnay vineyards are planted in the southern Napa Valley appellation known as Coombsville. It’s a magical pocket for Chardonnay, with sloping hillsides, cool foggy mornings and warm days in the summer. As the fruit ripens from veraison (when the grapes start to soften) onwards, sugars are accumulating and acids are dropping. Along with flavors and sugar level, acidity levels also play an important role in pick decisions; at harvest our malic levels are already in the range we want to be. Knowing our vineyards and fruit as intimately as we do, we understand the benefits non-malolactic fermentation can have on our wines. We have three main reasons for blocking malolactic fermentation in our Far Niente Estate Bottled Chardonnay.

  1. First, it allows us to retain the fruit’s natural acidity, which gives our wine that refreshing, juicy finish that leaves you craving another sip. That natural acidity also allows our white wines to age beautifully and makes them super food friendly.

  2. Second, foregoing malolactic fermentation allows us to get more vineyard-driven aromas and flavors. I know the word terroir is often over-used, but in this instance, non-malolactic fermentation helps us preserve the flavors and characteristics that are truly unique to our vineyards.

  3. Third, by choosing not to put our Chardonnay through malolactic fermentation, we are able to showcase the incredible textures that we get from our own proprietary clone of Chardonnay. The Charlemagne clone comes from vine cuttings that the vintners in Burgundy shared with us nearly 30 years ago. This special clone gives the midpalate of our Chardonnay a magnificent creamy-mineral quality. We don’t need malolactic fermentation to overshadow or compromise this unique – and incredibly delicious! – texture.

Although foregoing malolactic fermentation in our Chardonnay is essential to our house style, there are Chardonnay-growing vineyards and wine regions across the globe that benefit from malolactic fermentation. For example, in cooler areas like Burgundy, where grapes can often have an extremely high acidity, malolactic fermentation can actually bring the wines into better balance.”

Pushing pause on malolactic fermentation is just one of a number of factors that influences our house style for Far Niente Chardonnay. As Far Niente President Larry Maguire says, “People often ask me what it is that makes our Far Niente Chardonnay so special. It’s not one thing; it’s a thousand things.”

AND

Discover our Current Release and Cave Collection Chardonnays.

Related Posts

Winery & Vineyard Life Far Niente Chardonnay House Style

07.29.19

Non-Malolactic Fermentation and the Far Niente Chardonnay House Style

Non-malolactic fermentation. Although the phrase doesn’t roll easily off the tongue, Chardonnays made without it certainly can. And it’s essential to our Far Niente Chardonnay house style.

LEARN MORE
Winery & Vineyard Life Bella Union After Hours

03.08.22

Women in Wine

Meet Six Women Shaping the Far Niente Family of Wineries & Vineyards.

Two winemakers. One CFO. Two VPs. And the woman who helped launch Far Niente more than 40 years ago. In celebration of Women’s History Month, we sat down to talk with just a few of the women shaping the way we grow, make, sell and share our wines. From the cellar to the board room, these daring innovators and leaders share a passion for human connection and a sense of adventure.

LEARN MORE
Winery & Vineyard Life Far Niente Cave Cabernet

01.06.22

The Keys to Far Niente's Cave Collection: Crafting Age-Worthy Cabernet

In anticipation of our annual Cave Collection release, we sat down with Winemaker Nicole Marchesi to talk about Far Niente's Cave Collection and the keys to making age-worthy Napa Valley Cabernet. Read on to hear what she has to say. Then mark your calendars for the January 17 release from Far Niente's Cave Collection. This year’s allocation is one of our most limited to date, with less than 100 bottles available for our most sought-after vintages.

"Each vintage is our opportunity to make our greatest wine. It's what inspires us in the vineyard and winery."

LEARN MORE

divider
If you are at least 21 years of age and willing to accept cookies, please click enter.
ENTER
Book a Tour Call Us