Poetry starts in the vineyard

Kelter Wines ships currently to the following states:
California, Florida, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington DC.
For shipping to all other states, please call us at 415-309-3930.

Our Wines

  • 2022 Chardonnay, Ricci Vineyard-Los Carneros

    Our wines aim to highlight the terroir and the full expression of pure varietal character. Simply, we are harnessing California Sunshine.

    This Chardonnay is from a single block with gravely loamy soil at the Ricci Vineyard. It was 100% whole cluster pressed, and the juice settled for 24 hours before the start of the fermentation. We slowly fermented it in stainless steel for twenty-one days and transferred the wine to neutral French and stainless steel barrels. We did not allow malolactic fermentation to preserve this wine's pure character and freshness. Total barrel time on lees until bottling was eight months.

    Variety: 100% Chardonnay

    Clone: CH 17 - Robert Young

    Vineyard: Ricci Vineyard - Sonoma CA

    Appellation: Carneros Sonoma

    Press: Whole cluster

    Fermentation: Stainless Steele tank

    Malolactic Fermentation: No

    Aging: 8 month on lees in 60% Stainless Steele Barrels and 40% Neutral French Barrels

    Alcohol: 13.7%

    Total Acidity: 6.0 g/liter

    Residual Sugar: .05 g/liter-that is dry

    Cases produced: 77

    Tasting Notes

    Color: Yellow-greenish

    Aroma: honey suckle, lemon, pear, creamy and floral aromas

    Taste: Lively acidity with a creaminess from lees aging (Sur Lie). Layers of pear and lemon curd

    enhances your palate.

  • A blend of Saint Laurent and Pinot Noir. This was an outstanding vintage in terms of high quality and late ripening. Because of this, we decided to produce a Cuvée of Saint Laurent and Pinot Noir. 

    The Pinot Noir and Saint Laurent come from single blocks at the Ricci Vineyard with similar soil characteristics of gravely clay loam on a rolling hill.

    The grapes ripened very late that year, in October 2019, and we did not mind it at all. Unfortunately, upon the arrival of the grapes, we lost power at the winery for five days, leaving us to sort the grapes by hand and transfer them as whole clusters to their fermentation bins. This fermentation method is also known as semi-carbonic maceration or whole cluster fermentation. 

    The fermentation, in this case, occurs from the inside out of the grape berry. The result is an intense aromatic, elegant wine with lovely spice tones.

    After a long and slow fermentation, we gently pressed the wines and transferred them to their barrels for 14 months of aging. 

    This wine has been aging gracefully up until now and will continue to do so for many years to come.

    Aging:

    100% neutral Hungarian Oak barrels for 14 month

    Alcohol:

    12.9%

  • Some things truly need time to reveal their finest qualities, and the 2018 Saint Laurent is no exception. This late release captivates with a popping aroma of Maraschino cherries, inviting you to explore its delicate, perfectly balanced taste. Aged for 17 months in neutral French oak barrels with minimal intervention, this wine showcases the purest expression of its varietal. With a modest 11.5% alcohol content, it is both versatile and approachable, pairing beautifully with a broad selection of vegetarian and meat dishes—or simply enjoyed on its own during a relaxing evening. A true testament to patience and craftsmanship.

    Release date: 11-4-2024

    Alcohol: 11.5 % By Vol.

    Total Acidity: 6.2 g/liter

Amazing wines for a good cause

Our wines aim to highlight the terroir and the full expression of pure varietal character. Simply, we are harnessing California Sunshine.

Elevated Surface and Cavalière Claire are small production brands of Kelter Wines, founded in 2017 by Stefan Daniels. With over 40 years of experience in the California wine industry, Stefan has a wealth of knowledge in vine growing and winemaking. From the very start of his career, he believed that "Great winemaking starts in the vineyard." For this reason, Stefan sources the Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Saint Laurent grapes from the Ricci Vineyard, situated south of Sonoma in the Los Carneros region overlooking San Pablo Bay. Working closely with the owner, Dale Ricci, Stefan can ensure that the highest quality grapes are grown for his winemaking.

Kelter Wines donates $1.00/bottle from the sale to the ‘Delta Gamma Claire Daniels Memorial, Sisters helping Sisters Scholarship” every year.

We are proud to be part of helping students reach elevated levels during their academic lives.