Phelan Farm Brij Wines Chardonnay, San Luis Obispo Coast, California

From the windswept edge of California’s San Luis Obispo coast emerges the 2023 Phelan Farm Brij Wines Chardonnay, a wine shaped by maritime fog, rugged forest, and the rhythmic influence of the Pacific. This Chardonnay captures the raw essence of its coastal home, where regenerative farming and minimal intervention come together to reveal a purity and tension only nature can compose.

Product Details:

• Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
• Vineyard Source: Phelan Farm Estate, San Luis Obispo Coast
• Viticulture: Regenerative, biodynamic-inspired, permaculture-guided, no-till farming
• ABV: 12.5%
• Soils: Clay–quartz soils
• Vinification: Direct press; fermented in 1,200L Stockinger foudre and 500L puncheons
• Aging: 6 months in stainless steel; bottled by hand with no fining or filtration
• Yeasts: Native
• Production: 3,840 bottles
• Winemaker/ Owner: Rajat Parr

Sensory Description:

This wine opens with vibrant aromatics of crushed citrus, green pear, and cool coastal herbs, threaded with subtle salinity from the ocean-influenced vineyard. On the palate, it is focused and mineral, carrying crystalline tension beneath flavors of lemon zest, stone fruit, and wet quartz. Lees contact lends a quiet savory depth, while the finish tapers off clean, saline, and elegantly persistent.

Winemaker's Background:

Phelan Farm is the farming-driven vision of Rajat Parr, one of America’s most respected wine professionals, who shifted from international consulting to full-time stewardship of this remote coastal property. The farm’s vineyards are cultivated using regenerative, biodynamic-inspired, and permaculture methods that enrich soil life and rely on compost from the estate’s own animals, native-plant ferments, and holistic ecological balance. The Brij label, named for Raj’s father, reflects fruit sourced from trusted organic growers across the coast, allowing Raj to extend his philosophy of purity, restraint, and vineyard expression beyond the estate vines.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve at 50–54°F (10–12°C) in a Burgundy bowl to highlight texture and minerality. This Chardonnay shines with Dungeness crab, halibut crudo, oysters, grilled artichokes, seaweed salads, roasted chicken with lemon and herbs, or mild cheeses such as chèvre. Its precision and coastal salinity make it a natural partner for seafood and bright, vegetable-driven dishes.

A vivid expression of coastal California, this Chardonnay reflects thoughtful farming, gentle winemaking, and the wild character of its cool-climate origins. It is a wine both grounded in the land and lifted by the sea, energetic, pure, and deeply expressive, offering a compelling glimpse into the future of regenerative California winemaking.