Luli Chardonnay

Luli Chardonnay is a 750ml, 13.5% ABV Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay made from 100% hand-picked fruit. Scored 92 points by Wine Enthusiast on its 2024 vintage, this bottling represents a collaboration between Master Sommelier Sara Floyd and the acclaimed Pisoni Family, with winemaking by Jeff Pisoni.

Quick Facts: ABV: 13.5%  |  Origin: Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County, California  |  100% Chardonnay  |  Winemaker: Jeff Pisoni

Production & Heritage

Luli is a joint venture between Sara Floyd, one of relatively few female Master Sommeliers in the world, and the Pisoni Family, whose vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands have earned a devoted following among California wine collectors. Jeff Pisoni handles winemaking duties, fermenting the Chardonnay in 100% neutral oak barrels using native yeast — a deliberate choice that avoids the toasty new-oak influence common in many California Chardonnays. The juice is transferred to barrel unsettled so it ages on its original lees, building texture and complexity, while malo-lactic fermentation is intentionally blocked to preserve the wine's bright, focused aromatics and natural acidity.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: White peach and white flower open the glass, followed by freshly peeled Meyer lemon and grapefruit peel. A subtle flinty quality and foggy-morning herbs add intrigue beneath the fruit.

Taste: The entry is crisp and immediate, with ripe pear and apple giving way to honeyed pineapple and lemondrop flavors at the mid-palate. A chalky minerality and firm textural grip emerge as the wine opens, supported by zippy, mouthwatering acidity that keeps each sip lively and precise.

Finish: Medium in length with a tart citrus brightness and lingering crushed-stone minerality. The absence of malo-lactic softness lets the finish stay clean and refreshing rather than creamy.

How to Drink Luli Chardonnay

Serve lightly chilled — around 50–55°F — to let the aromatics open without muting the minerality. This is a versatile Chardonnay that performs well both on its own and in mixed drinks. A French 75 benefits from the wine's citrus brightness and crisp acidity. A White Wine Spritzer showcases its pear and peach notes against a sparkling backdrop. And a Chardonnay Sangria with stone fruit and fresh herbs echoes the wine's natural flavor profile.

Best For

• Introducing someone to unoaked-style California Chardonnay
• Weeknight dinners with seafood, roast chicken, or pasta in cream sauce
• Gifting a wine lover who appreciates the Pisoni Family name
• Summer entertaining where a refreshing, mineral-driven white is needed

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Luli Chardonnay taste like? Luli Chardonnay leads with Meyer lemon, ripe pear, and white peach, backed by chalky minerality and mouthwatering acidity. The neutral-oak fermentation keeps the profile focused on fruit and stone rather than butter or toast.

How does Luli Chardonnay compare to Lucia Chardonnay? Both wines are made by Jeff Pisoni from Santa Lucia Highlands fruit, but Lucia represents the family's premium estate line sourced from their Pisoni and Soberanes vineyards. Luli is positioned as the more accessible, value-oriented bottling while sharing the same winemaking philosophy and regional character.

Is Luli Chardonnay good for sipping neat? Absolutely — its combination of bright acidity, lees-driven texture, and clean minerality makes it a rewarding glass on its own, particularly when served slightly chilled.

Where is Luli Chardonnay made? Luli Chardonnay is produced from hand-picked fruit grown in the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA of Monterey County, California. The appellation's cool, fog-influenced climate is responsible for the wine's hallmark acidity and aromatic intensity.

What foods pair well with Luli Chardonnay? Grilled halibut or seared scallops complement the wine's minerality. Roast chicken with herbs mirrors its savory undertones. Fresh goat cheese echoes its chalky texture. Crab cakes work well against the bright citrus acidity, and a simple pear-and-arugula salad highlights the fruit-driven side of the palate.

What sizes does Luli Chardonnay come in? Luli Chardonnay is available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Luli Chardonnay worth the price? Luli positions as a value-oriented expression within the Santa Lucia Highlands category, delivering vineyard character and careful winemaking — neutral oak, native yeast, lees aging — at a price point well below the Pisoni Family's estate Lucia label.

Why Luli Chardonnay?

What distinguishes this wine is the pedigree behind it: a Master Sommelier and one of California's most respected vineyard families collaborating on a Chardonnay designed to showcase site over winemaking artifice. The use of 100% neutral oak, native yeast fermentation, and blocked malo-lactic fermentation is a deliberate stylistic statement — this is Santa Lucia Highlands fruit presented with minimal intervention. A 92-point score from Wine Enthusiast on the 2024 vintage confirms the approach is working. For drinkers seeking a California Chardonnay that prioritizes minerality and acidity over richness and oak, Luli fills a gap that few wines at its price tier occupy.