Not the Surprise We Were Hoping For | Sutter Home vs. Olema California Chardonnay

Sutter Home Chardonnay surprised the crew by being less offensive than expected, but the real shock was how little separation there was between a $9 1.5L bottle and the $15.99 Olema California Chardonnay. The episode dives into why Chardonnay gets such a bad reputation, how oak and climate shape the wine, and why people shouldn’t give up on the grape after one bad experience.

Featured wines:

• Sutter Home Chardonnay, California, 13.1% ABV, $7
• Olema California Chardonnay 2024, 13.8% ABV, $15.99

The crew also crowns a winner of the “Drink This, Not That” challenge and debates whether popular budget wines deserve all the hate they get.

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Chapters

00:00 - Intro and Challenge Recap
01:18 - Todays Wine
09:37 - First Impressions of Sutter Home Chardonnay
18:14 - First Impressions of Olema Chardonnay
23:24 - Why Chardonnay Is So Divisive
31:44 - Exploring Chardonnay Styles Around the World
34:14 - Revisiting the Olema After It Opens Up
35:22 - Review and Final Thoughts
40:13 - Deciding the Drink This, Not That Winner
47:26 - Upcoming Napa Wine Company Episodes
48:08 - Where to Follow the Show