Each week, I highlight a wine that truly captivates me—whether for its distinct character, fascinating story, or sheer pleasure in the glass. This week, the 2018 Enfield Wine Co. Chardonnay Rorick Vineyard takes the spotlight.

What sets this wine apart isn’t just its undeniable quality, but its unexpected origin. Grown in the rugged Sierra Foothills—far from the traditional Chardonnay regions—this wine defies expectations. Napa-based Enfield Wine Co. lets the vineyard shine, capturing the essence of its unique terroir in every sip. This Chardonnay invites you to explore California’s hidden gems, proving that extraordinary wines often come from unexpected places.

Enfield Wine Co.

I first discovered Enfield Wine Co. in 2018 at the inaugural Wine Writer’s Educational Tour (WWET), during a tasting that featured Napa Valley’s lesser-known sub-AVAs, including Wild Horse Canyon, Napa’s smallest and most elusive AVA. Among the offerings, the 2016 Heron Lake Vineyard Pinot Noir caught my attention with its purity and finesse. I was so impressed that I ordered several bottles soon after.

Founded by John Lockwood and Amy Seese, Enfield Wine Co. is a family project that focuses on crafting wines that reflect their sense of place. Their approach prioritizes terroir, working with small vineyards and independent growers, allowing natural fermentation to express the character of the soil and vines.John Lockwood began his winemaking journey in 2004 and launched Enfield Wine Co. as a full-time project in 2013, with a minimalist philosophy that allows the vineyards’ natural expression to take center stage. Prioritizing terroir, they work with small vineyards and independent growers

“Lockwood got his start in the California wine industry in 2004 working up at Heron Lake vineyard with David Mahaffey. He went on to work harvests with Ted Lemon at Littorai, Bodega Melipal in Argentina, and Failla Wines with Ehren Jordan where he worked for 5 years farming and managing the Sonoma Coast and Russian River estate vineyards. He started Enfield Wine Co. in 2010 as small side-project while still working at Failla, and in 2013 took the plunge with Enfield as a full time project”(1)

As Eric Asimov highlighted in The New York Times article The Art of Winemaking on the Cheap, Lockwood’s winemaking philisophy centers on crafting …fresh, intense, textured wines that are expressive at low levels of alcohol. (2)

2018 Enfield Wine Co. Chardonnay Rorick Vineyard

Rorick Vineyard, perched at 2,000 feet in Calaveras County’s Sierra Foothills, is a hidden gem. With limestone soils and an alpine climate, this site has produced outstanding wines since Barden Stevenot first planted own-rooted Wente Chardonnay in the 1970s. Today, under Matthew Rorick’s organic farming practices, the vineyard continues to shine.

Tasting Note:

Pale lemon in color. The nose offers a fresh bouquet of green apple, white peach, lemon curd, chalk, and a hint of flinty minerality. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied with zesty, mouthwatering acidity, showcasing flavors of green apple, white peach, and lemon drop, enhanced by a subtle touch of spice and a captivating saline minerality. The long, satisfying finish leaves a lasting impression. My wife even thought it was French, thanks to its lively acidity and minerality. 13% abv|SRP – $36

The 2018 Enfield Wine Co. Chardonnay from Rorick Vineyard is more than just a bottle—it’s an expression of place, history, and craftsmanship. With its superb quality-to-price ratio, this Chardonnay overdelivers, offering complexity and character typically found in much pricier bottles. This Chardonnay was so captivating that I couldn’t resist ordering more wine from Enfield. Whether you’re a longtime Chardonnay fan or a curious explorer, this is a wine worth discovering and savoring.

Sources and resources:

1. Enfield Wine Co.; About
2. The New York Times; The Art of Winemaking on the Cheap,