Red or white, it’s always a conundrum when there are so many good wines around. It was Father’s Day, and we were in Napa Valley just south of St. Helena having lunch at Mustards Grill. It was another hot summer day, so salads, a cold soup, and seared scallops were in the offing. The wine we chose to accompany our meal was Folie à Deux Chardonnay. As luck would have it, their sister winery and tasting room was just a short distance down the road. After lunch, we were off to visit a few tasting rooms, theirs included, to try a few new wines.
Folie à Deux Chardonnay
Folie à Deux Wines was established in 1981 in the Sonoma Valley Wine Region by two psychiatrists who shared a love for wines. This passion compelled them to create a boutique winery with the named Folie à Deux, meaning “a passion shared by two.” Their combined passion resulted in a very well established winery with many noteworthy wines.
By 2004, Folie à Deux Wines was acquired by Trinchero Family Estates, the same company that owns Ménage à Trois. Today Folie à Deux produces a wide variety of wines, which include Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Merlot, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. This same winery also produces three wine blends and four varietals under the name Menage à Trois, named the “Wine Brand of the Year” by the wine/beverage industry, and was one of the top-selling red wines in the United States by 2010.
If you’re looking to taste their wines you can find it at Napa Cellars. It’s another holding of Trinchero Family Estates located in Napa Valley directly off of Highway 29 very close to one of my favorite restaurants – Mustards Grill. As it is with so many Napa tasting rooms, you’ll find this location inviting and a fun place for a picnic and to try a few wines.
This is what the winemaker has to say about their Folie à Deux Chardonnay:
“Folie à Deux 2012 Chardonnay is rich and seductive. Its complex aromas of warm shortbread, cinnamon, pear and melon overtones touch the nose, while flavors of fuji apple, tangerine, and pineapple citrus rest on the palate. Lingering hints of vanilla are present in the finish. This wine is full-bodied with depths of fruit from the partial malolactic fermentation, creating creamy texture and vibrant acidity. For a great food pairing, serve this wine with poached salmon or pan seared scallops.”
Folie à Deux Chardonnay, a well-priced wine, can be found on their website, at amazon.com, bevmo.com, wine.com, totalwine.com, CostPlus/World Market locations, or many wine markets and wine purveyors. All you have to do is ask for it.
Folie à Deux Chardonnay was a nice compliment with our seared scallops. It was even more fun to have the opportunity to enjoy it at Mustards Grill, one of my favorite places, for Father’s Day with my very special guy.
Time for a glass…
If you enjoyed reading about “Folie à Deux Chardonnay,” check out Sebastiani Winery Chardonnay, La Crema Chardonnay, and Hess Chardonnay.
P.S.: Check out a few of my favorite wine tools and resources below. 🙂