| Region of production: | California |
| Winery Location: | Healdsburg |
| Year Established: | 2005 |
Vineyard Holdings
None
Sourced vineyards
- Peter Martin Ray (Santa Cruz Mountains)
- Pinnacle (Santa Cruz Mountains)
- Porter Bass (Sonoma Coast)
- Charles Heintz (Sonoma Coast)
Top Wines Produced & Inaugural Vintages
- Peter Martin Ray Vineyard Chardonnay
- Pinnacle Vineyard Chardonnay
- Porter Bass Vineyard Chardonnay: 2005
- Charles Heintz Vineyard Chardonnay
Average Total Production
- 36,000 bottles
Summary
Co-owners John Raytek and Phoebe Bass founded the winery with a mission to express the “unique” minerality and terroir (Ceritas is the Spanish word for minerality found in wine) of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vineyards across the state of California. John’s background managing wine programs in restaurants like The Inn at Little Washington and The Little Nell (Aspen, CO) transitioned into working in wineries themselves. His experience from Flowers Winery (link), Rhys Vineyard, and Copain Wines aided in starting Ceritas with Phoebe, whose family owns Porter-Bass Vineyard. Currently all vineyards are farmed biodynamically or are in the process of conversion to biodynamic farming. John is currently winemaker for Lioco Wines as well.
Style & Vinification Techniques
All Chardonnay wines are made from Old Wente clone selections. Grapes are harvested at night and fruit sorting is done by hand in the vineyard. After pressing, juice settles for 3-7 days in open-top vessels to promote early oxidation. Following settling the juice is racked into barrels for fermentation. No new oak is used, lees are not stirred and no additions are made to the wine other then sulfur and bentonite for fining.
Producer Website: Ceritas