2021 Herson Family - Chardonnay Influence

Herson Family Vineyards is owned by a husband and wife team of Washington, D.C. lobbyists, one a Democrat and one a Republican, who named their wines as playful nods to their profession. The Chardonnay is called Influence, joined in the portfolio by a Cabernet Sauvignon named Persuasion and a Merlot called Access. Winemaking is handled by Bob Foley, who began his Napa Valley career in 1977 after graduating from UC Davis and spent fifteen years as the founding winemaker at Markham Vineyards before taking on a small, carefully chosen roster of projects, Herson Family among them.

This Chardonnay is sourced from Carneros, one of California's coolest and foggiest premium growing regions, where the marine influence off San Pablo Bay slows ripening and helps preserve natural acidity in the fruit. Because Foley limits himself to only a handful of clients, Influence receives the same meticulous attention as his more widely known Napa projects, with fruit picked to balance ripeness against freshness rather than pushing for maximum weight.

The wine is gently floral on the nose, with a silky texture and notes of ripe apricot, pink grapefruit, lemon peel, and lime zest. A long, bright finish balances acidity against ripe fruit. It pairs well with grilled lobster tail, pan-seared halibut, or a warm butternut squash soup.