Handley Cellars – Money Prize
PHILO
3151 Hwy. 128
tel. (800) 733-3151
www.handleycellars.com
info@handleycellars.com
35 ac – 96,000 bt
PEOPLE
Milla Handley started out making Chardonnay in her garage. By 1982 she had won gold at the 1982 Orange County Fair and the winery took off. Originally intending to become a sparkling wine house, the 59-acre Guntley Ranch is a historic farm dating back to 1911, now planted to various clones of Chardonnay and Pinot noir as well as Gewürztraminer and pinot blanc. Handley’s daughter Lulu McClellan recently moved back to the ranch after time spent in Maine studying old world farming using draft horses and a stint in Galicia making Albariño. She now heads the operation, guiding the business and property with aims to diversify their agricultural endeavors.
VINEYARDS
The Handley ranch is located in the “Deep End” at the northermost point of Anderson Valley, approximately 10 miles from the ocean. With the prodigious ocean fog rolling in daily, this cool growing area is ideal cold weather grapes, and even the Chardonnay struggles to ripen. Certified in 2005, Handley is one of the few organic farms in all of Anderson Valley and the majority of power is derived from solar energy. Lulu takes great pride in farming ethically, without exposing herself, her vines, or her vineyard workers to harmful chemicals.
WINES
The mineral, saline nose with waftings of green grass and white flowers of the Chardonnay 2016 (Everyday wine) seamlessly transitions to a complex palate of salty green apple, bitter lemon rind, and vanilla shortbread with a weighted but lofty mouthfeel. Red currants, blackberry jam and black pepper intermingle in the cheerful medium bodied Estate Pinot Noir 2015. Red currants and mulberries accent the umami, savory features that define the RSM Vineyard Pinot Noir 2015. Fresh leather and soy sauce give this brooding Pinot great complexity.
FERTILIZERS compost
PLANT PROTECTION copper and sulfur
WEED CONTROL mechanical
YEASTS commercial cultured yeasts, spontaneous fermentation
GRAPES purchase 40%
CERTIFICATION organic