2011 Airfield Estates Unoaked Chardonnay

We loved Airfield Estates’ The Bombshell Red – she was truly luscious. And their winery sounds like a blast to visit – it used to be a WWII airfield, and they built the winery to resemble the hangars that used to be there – complete with faux hangar doors and an airfield tower which houses their V.I.P. room and wine library. Plus, their wines are made with 100% estate-grown fruit which makes them very cool in our book.

Their unoaked Chardonnay (fermented in stainless steel tanks) is a true party wine. Get a few, chill ’em, open ’em, pour ’em and your deck will turn into an 80’s-era beer commercial, complete with the Hawaiian Tropic girls turning the garden hose on each other in slow motion. It’s so much better than the other boring stuff served at cookouts. It’s refreshing enough to beat the heat, and crisp, tropical and citrus-y enough to get everybody interested. It’s a true crowd-pleaser. Think  lemonade, limeade and passion-fruit iced tea that makes you happy (gives you a buzz) and makes you want to jump into the pool with your clothes on. Oh, and it makes the Hawaiian Tropic Girls want to do the same but with theirs off.

Enough acidity to stand up to grilled shrimp, or just fine by itself while you all toast to the approaching Summer.