Swirl and Sip with Downton Abbey Chardonnay

By Linda Kissam

You knew it had to happen. There’s a perfect wine for everyone and every dish – and now a perfect wine has arrived for the crazed “Abbey Head” in your life. Just in time to toast the success of the fifth season of the wildly popular BBC series, Downton Abbey, the ultimate Chardonnay has debuted. It’s part of the Countess of Grantham Collection; a delightful collection of varietal wines made with premium fruit from California, called simply enough…Downtown Abbey Chardonnay ($15). If you don’t know, Downton Abbey is a tasty drama about various members of an aristocratic English family and the people who serve them, all set in the early 20th century. It was a hit from the opening act in Season 1. The latest one, Season 5 aired Sundays, January 4 – March 1, 2015 on Masterpiece on PBS.

According to a press release I received, this wine takes its Inspiration from Lady Cora Crawley, the oh-so modern, American-born wife of British noble Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham. That’s pretty cool in itself, but this fruit forward wine’s claim to fame is that it is a delicious example of how good a California Chardonnay can be when it’s not over oaked. Presented in an old world style with a new world attitude, this elegant wine shows restraint yet is not without spunk. I think you’ll enjoy, as I did, the bright fruit resulting in a soft lemon citrus and vanilla profile. Soft and smooth on the palate, this is one wine you’ll want to linger on… rolling it round and round in your mouth. I am thinking it would be a delight with buttery popcorn, roasted chicken or Crème Brulee.

The Downton Abbey winemaking team looked to estate vineyards in Lodi, California for the high-quality fruit source for the new wine. Lange Twins Family Winery and Vineyards and Wines that Rock were the source point. Accordingly, the best old world winemaking practices joined forces with the newest winemaking techniques producing a distinct new taste option for Downton Abbey Wine fans.

William Zysblat, co-founder of Downton Abbey Wines shares, “As legions of Downton Abbey fans continue to enjoy the show with a glass in hand, they now have even more choices with a new … Chardonnay.” Whether you are a fan or a wine aficionado, this wine is a must try with its charming aromas of tropical fruits and delicate oak giving way to citrus flavors on a soft, refined palate.

About the DOWNTON ABBEY WINES Portfolio

The portfolio includes a Bordeaux “Claret” and “Blanc” alongside the just-released Countess of Grantham Collection’s Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, offering consumers a varied selection of wines that every fan will approve of. The new Downton Abbey Wines are now available at select grocery stores and wine retailers in the U.S including World Market.

Full Disclosure: A sample of the Downton Abbey Chardonnay  was supplied to The Wine Chixs for review . The opinions are all mine.  I call it as I drink it. In this case, the product was great.  Just sayin’.

Photo Credits: Downton Abbey Wines