For over thirty years, Sonoma-Cutrer has been dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in our wines, specifically Chardonnays. Behind this almost singular focus is a story about serendipity, place and the pursuit of perfection. By design, a large part of the Sonoma-Cutrer story and rich history has relied on the talents of our winemaking team.

It is a fairly amazing and little known fact that since our inception the winery has only had three Directors of Winemaking. Each of these individuals has had their own indelible influence on the wine, the process and the continuation of Sonoma-Cutrer’s heritage. Each has strived to improve upon the efforts of their predecessor, while never deviating from the original winemaking philosophy or the signature Sonoma-Cutrer style.

The Sonoma-Cutrer vision has always kept the winemaking team at the forefront pursuing excellence through technology and innovation. After years of being dissatisfied with cork “tainted” wines, Terry Adams, Director of Winemaking (1991-2010), made the unprecedented decision to seal our most distinctive Chardonnay, the limited 1999 Founders Reserve Chardonnay, with a screw cap closure. As this wine is designed for prolonged cellaring, Founders Reserve has to show potential for in-bottle development. Terry’s extensive research on the subject of closures led him to the conclusion that screw cap technology was the best option available for fine wine because it guaranteed an air-tight closure for up to 20 years without the risk of cork taint.

Today, Sonoma-Cutrer continues to bottle its most premium expressions utilizing screw cap closures, including our most selective release to date – the 2012 Winemaker’s Release Legacy. Our closure choice ensures that this elegant wine will continue to bottle-age for years to come allowing the wine to reach new heights of perfection.