Whom You Know Highly Recommends William Hill Chardonnay! Perfect for the Holiday Season, also Great for Every Day!
Ingenuity and Artistry Converge at William Hill
Tucked away in the rolling hills of Napa Valley, along the Silverado Trail, lies an undiscovered stretch of picturesque benchland vineyard. William Hill Estate Winery sits at the center of this vineyard – in the heart of the Silverado Bench – crafting contemporary, sophisticated wines that tell the story of a very different kind of Napa Valley: A Napa Valley that is off the beaten path.
Here at Whom You Know, we strive to find these undiscovered products that are like diamonds that we uncover...we are pleased to announce that the William Hill Chardonnay is a great example!
In 1978, visionary vineyard developer William Hill saw the incredible potential of the Silverado Bench, where he built his namesake winery. Three decades later, William Hill winemaker Ralf Holdenried is making modern wines that speak to the unique terroir of this virtually unknown area of southern Napa Valley.
A Unique Estate Vineyard
A confluence of characteristics makes William Hill’s 140-acre estate an ideal vineyard. Set on a benchland – off the valley floor, but below the steeper slopes of the hills – with a southwestern exposure, the vineyard basks in abundant sunlight. Vineyards in Southern Napa are typically cooler, but the sun exposure on the Silverado Bench makes William Hill a notable exception.
The vineyard is close to the valley floor climatically, but the volcanic soil and the size and vigor of the vines means William Hill is more like a mountaintop vineyard. These elements translate to fruit-driven, expressive red Bordeaux varietals with elegant tannin structure.
Significant variation in aspect, drainage and sun exposure – even from row to row – has prompted winemaker Ralf Holdenried to carve out specific vineyard blocks, some as small as one-tenth of an acre. The grapes from each block are picked at their optimal ripeness and fermented separately, allowing Ralf to bring the full expression of the vineyard into the bottle. The result is a range of concentrated, balanced blends with multi-dimensional layers.
A Contemporary Winery
It is no coincidence that William Hill Estate Winery was designed with the winemaker in mind. The vineyard is just outside the winery door, giving Ralf the freedom to be involved in every aspect of the winemaking process. “During harvest, I want to be out in the vineyard where all the flavors are developing, but I also want to be in the winery for the next steps,” says Ralf. “At William Hill, I have the great luxury of seeing what we’ve picked in a given day and then tasting from the fermentation tanks, almost instantaneously.”
Ingenuity converges with artistry at William Hill, a midsize artisanal winery. Designed for optimal flexibility, the winery supports Ralf’s approach of carving out vineyard blocks and letting their flavors develop individually. “The number of tanks and barrels we have in relation to the grapes on the land means I can make decisions about blending once the individual lots have had a chance to show their true potential,” explains Ralf. “This winery facilitates an artistic influence over the wine.”
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The Champagne Wishes Panel of Whom You Know could not have been more pleased with this product. One of our experts is particularly well-versed in white wine and it is her signature drink:
William Hill Estate Napa Valley Chardonnay (Vintage: 2007)
"If you're ever in need of a great wine accompaniment to a seafood dish, the William Hill Estate Napa Valley Chardonnay is just the ticket. I discovered this to my delight over a dinner of lobster ravioli layered with mozzarella cheese and drizzled with miso sauce. Before taking a bite of my dinner, I took a few sips of the Chardonnay, which started out as a full-bodied, complex burst of notes such as pineapple, tangerine, apple and florals, but ends with a crisp, clean, and ever so slightly creamy finish. Paired with my meal, I was amazed at how well it complemented the relatively mild seafood ravioli without clashing with the stronger flavor of the miso. It was actually quite a harmonious blend of flavors, the ravioli tasted better in between sips, and in between the tantalizing bites, I just wanted to take more sips of the wine. I must emphasize the importance and appeal of pairing a dish with just the right wine, as it makes all the difference in the enjoyment of the meal!
It isn't surprising that such a fine Chardonnay is sourced from the Napa Valley, which I've learned from 2 previous trips, is actually renowned for yielding some of the finest Chardonnays in the world. William Hill Estate's specialty focus is on its Chardonnay (as well as Cabernet Sauvignon), so you can be assured the Chardonnay is top notch.
As the pairing of this Chardonnay with seafood was such an excellent match, I'd dare to venture that other light meats, such as poultry, would be a fine and complementary pairing too. And with Thanksgiving right around the corner, I will have a glass of this Chardonnay right alongside my turkey dinner!"
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"When you are not a wine connoisseur, you can have difficulty choosing wines, either when entertaining guests or when bringing a bottle to a friend’s house for dinner, and I know some of our readers of Whom You Know are in the learning stages in regards to the wonderful world of wine. Generally, I ask the person behind the counter in the wine shop what he/she would recommend to enhance my own knowledge, and I am happy to try suggested bottles. When the William Hill Estate 2007 Napa Valley Chardonnay was recently recommended by a friend, I went with it and offered it up at Thanksgiving dinner at my mom’s house. And for the first time in a long time, people actually talked about the wine, took a closer look at the bottle to note the maker, and complimented my selection.
Here’s what others were saying on Thanksgiving: 'Have a glass of wine, you’ll love it…Well, I didn’t want to have more than one before dinner, but this is delicious…What a perfect complement to the turkey!'
And so, over dinner of turkey and a ridiculous variety of traditional side dishes, I indulged in a glass. And it was delicious. There was a kind of fruitiness that I wasn’t expecting. The sweet flavors are subtle, but even a rookies will taste the difference between this chardonnay and others. Just take my word that for $20 a bottle, the William Hill Estate 2007 Napa Valley Chardonnay is well worth the price. I enjoyed a glass of my own, and also enjoyed a long afternoon of compliments from our distinguished guests. I was so pleased with our William Hill selection."
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[Can you guess the below commentary is from our White Wine Expert?]
"First and foremost, I love, love, love this Chardonnay……..I am a HUGE fan of Chardonnay, so I was very excited to have the opportunity to be part of this panel.
The William Hill 2007 Napa Valley Chardonnay grapes were harvested at night between August 22nd and October 6th, in 2007 the weather remained fairly mild, this slowed the ripening of certain varietals and set a good pace for the rest of harvest. These were harvested at night, as this keeps the grapes fresh. This was then aged in French and American oak barrels.
This delicious chardonnay is real California style. It is buttery, with oak, and I taste a hint of cinnamon and other spice. This differs from other California Chardonnays, in that the flavors are “real”. There is a good mix of fruit. The flavor is very complex. I feel with this wine, they got the balance between the fruit, acid and oak, right on!
When you first try it, you will sense the vanilla and apple. This Chardonnay is very easy on the palate with little acidity.
This will be a great choice for Thanksgiving Dinner, right around the corner, as it pairs great with white meat. As the flavor is light and tasty, it makes for a perfect glass before dinner.
The William Hill Chardonnay 2007 was bottled in April 2009 and released in September 2009, so you should order from your local store while stocks last! You will be pleasantly surprised by the price."
The Whom You Know Champagne Wishes Panel enthusiastically recommends William Hill Chardonnay!
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At Home on the Silverado Bench: Winemaker Ralf Holdenried
A winemaker can spend a lifetime searching for the perfect vineyard. In Ralf Holdenried’s case, the vineyard found him.
With an eclectic mix of winemaking experience that spans two continents, Ralf is right at home at William Hill’s benchland estate along the Silverado Trail in southern Napa Valley. From childhood chores on his family’s vineyard in Germany to crafting small lot wines in Napa Valley, Ralf is perfectly poised to bring his wines from the Silverado Bench onto the world stage.
Building on a Winemaking Heritage
Growing up on his family’s vineyard in Reinhessen, Germany, Ralf gained a profound appreciation for cultivating the land. “Winemaking was part of my everyday life,” Ralf explains. “My upbringing helped me understand the importance of the vineyard in the finished wine.”
After an internship at a boutique winery in Germany, Ralf realized that winemaking was more than just a family duty: “Going through crush there – seeing the dynamics in the cellar, working with the grapes and the land, melding equipment and technology to create something that people care about and enjoy – that really inspired me to pursue wine as a career.”
Ralf studied winemaking and viticulture at Germany’s prestigious University of Geisenheim and worked at several wineries in Reinhessen and Nahe, gaining exposure to the full spectrum of winemaking techniques.
Discovering Napa Valley
Ralf later studied fermentation science, viticulture and enology at the University of California at Davis, where he became fascinated with California’s wine culture. “California offers the freedom to move beyond some of the traditional laws of Old World winemaking,” Ralf explains. “Here, I have the flexibility to go in new directions without being confined by conventional customs.”
Ralf joined E. & J. Gallo Winery’s Sonoma County winemaking team in 1998. He earned his MBA at UC Davis and later became winemaking director of Louis M. Martini’s small lot wines. “At Martini’s artisan winery, Cellar 254, I had the incredible opportunity to work with grapes from some of California’s most coveted sites,” says Ralf. “I was involved in the artistry of winemaking in a very hands-on way.”
Finding a Home at William Hill
Today, Ralf applies his breadth of experience to crafting William Hill’s sophisticated, contemporary wines from the Silverado Bench. “We have only begun to tap into the enormous potential of this region,” says Ralf. “Our 140-acre estate vineyard epitomizes the Silverado Bench –concentrated, flavorful grapes that make soft wines. I hope to express the quality of this region with every vintage.”
This incredible vineyard, tucked away in the hills of Napa Valley, has found itself the ideal winemaker.
