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If inflation is getting you down, you might take comfort that Fred Franzia (owner of Bronco and the Grand Cru winery) once famously said, “There’s no wine worth more than 10 bucks a bottle.” And with Grand Cru Chardonnay, he delivers a white wine that’s remarkably well-balanced, fresh and tasty, and affordable in these times. A blend of 75% Chardonnay, 11% Pinot Grigio, 6% Viognier, and 8% termed “proprietor’s blend,” this wine is perfect for winding down after a busy workday. According to the winery, “The Grand Cru Chardonnay is a light straw color with pear, melon, and vanilla aromas. Citrus and green apple flavors combine with a silky mouth feel.”
Grand Cru Vineyards is produced by the Bronco Wine Company, the fifth-largest wine producer in the United States. But unlike some of the wine company conglomerates, Bronco prides itself as a grape grower and operator of wineries rather than a negociant buyer and seller of bulk wine. Indeed, Bronco owns more vineyards than any other American producer. The owner of Bronco, Fred Franzia has deep roots in California wine. A nephew of the late Ernest Gallo (who built the largest US wine producer), he may also be among the most colorful (and frequently controversial) personalities in California wine. He’s firm that grape growers have discovered more about viticulture than university researchers and believes that California should have only one appellation: California. But if anyone is more passionate and sincere in the belief that wine must be inexpensive and unpretentious, we’d like to know who that is! Two other Bronco brands that Hotei imports (or has imported) are J. W. Morris and Quail Creek. However, the most famous label within the Bronco portfolio might be Charles Shaw (aka, “two-buck Chuck”), which crushed wine sales at Trader Joes for years and gained near-celebrity status in the early aughts. Grand Cru Vineyards is a reliable choice for those who love a glass of wine every or most days of the week but also want to keep an eye on their spending.
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Appellation(s) | California |
| Winery | Grand Cru Vineyards |
| Vintage | NV |
| Color | White |
| Varietal(s) | 75% Chardonnay, 11% Pinot Grigio, 6% Viognier, 8% Proprietors’ Blend |
| Closure | Cork |
| Volume | 750ml |
| Bottle Size | 8.2 x 26.5 |
| Case Size | 33.5 x 26.0 x 27.0 |
| Alcohol | 12.5% |
| Product Code | GC-CH |
| UPC | 081054094405 |
This wine is a light straw color with pear, melon, and vanilla aromas; citrus and green apple flavors, with a silky mouth feel. This Chardonnay is well-balanced and structured, with a lingering aftertaste.
Fermented and aged in stainless steel tank with some added oak.