I’m bummed about saying it, but this is the last vintage for Ortman wines; the winery was forced to close at the end of the year due to economic woes. However, you can still buy this wine in shops and restaurants and get it at value prices. It’s my style of Chard: Fermented primarily in stainless steel, it offers zingy notes of green apples, pears, and citrus. A lovely wine for sipping, it’s also a good choice for shellfish, halibut, pasta primavera, or salads with chicken and fruit. A good value even at $28, you’ll find it on sale at Gather Wine Bar in Arroyo Grande: Buy one and get the second at half-price. Owner Kari Ziegler said it was among the top 10 wines she sold in 2011. Everyone likes this Chardonnay.
This article appears in Jan 5-12, 2012.