Our Sauvignon Blanc vineyards enjoyed beautiful conditions from Spring right through harvest in September. As usual, the majority of the grapes are from the Griva vineyard in the Arroyo Seco appellation of the Salinas Valley. This year we also selected grapes from a neighboring vineyard as well as from two vineyards a few miles to the south in slightly warmer locations. All our Sauvignon Blanc grapes are the highly prized Musqué clone. We also continue our tradition of adding a small addition of barrel fermented Napa Semillon to enhance roundness and complexity. A large majority of our lots are cold fermented in stainless steel tanks to enhance and protect the intense varietal characters of these special vineyards. The resulting blend is a wine which exhibits a rich mosaic of aromas and flavors typical of the great Sauvignon Blancs of the world.

Owner Ben Pon appreciates wine as an art - a form of art that transcends the ordinary. His dream with Bernardus is to make a red wine equal to the finest from Bordeaux. To achieve this purpose, Ben, a Dutchman who could have planted vineyards anywhere in the world, has chosen the Carmel Valley for his estate vineyards and winery. Since the early 1970's, there has been a growing awareness of the outstanding potential for Bordeaux varieties from this new viticultural appellation. The Bernardus estate vineyards of Marinus and Featherbow Ranch are located in the Cachagua region of the Carmel Valley. We have been told that Cachagua is the Spanish word Native Americans used for deep or hidden water. It has been said that Native Americans believed that all things in nature were sacred and interrelated. Their respect for balance in nature is carried on in the vineyards of Bernardus. More than 300 live oaks have been preserved to thrive among carefully planted vines.
Of the 220 acres, 50 acres have been planted to vineyards of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Sauvignon Blanc. Bernardus ventures forth as the fifth winery to establish vineyards in this sacred valley. While growing Bordeaux-style varieties in our estate vineyards, at Bernardus we are committed to cultivating Chardonnay in cool coastal climates, specifically the Monterey County growing region. Grapes from other superior coastal appellations in California are used to add nuances to the Bernardus blend. The vineyard components are then complemented by many different yeasts and oaks during the winemaking procedure.