Austin By Austin Hope Chardonnay Paso Robles 750ml

Mark - Wine Specialist, Woodland Hills

"I have been a fan of Paso Robles wines since moving here from Maryland in 1996. I knew of the area from wine magazines and tastings I attended. Nothing was better than spending a couple of days tasting wines from the east side of town on the first day, then comparing them to the west side the next.

This Chardonnay I’m promoting is from the Austin Hope Winery, with grapes sourced in Paso Robles. Austin Hope, who came from the Caymus winery in Napa Valley, learned a lot from the Wagner family before branching out on his own. The wine is a non-vintage, balanced, tropical-style Chardonnay with a touch of oak — a style very few wineries bottle. They also make a Cabernet Sauvignon in the same non-vintage style. It’s a great weeknight wine that’s tasty on its own and very affordable. They have a great tasting room that I’ve visited and really enjoyed."