Owners John and Lane Giguiere have been growing grapes and making wine for more than 25 years in Dunnigan Hills, California. After selling their family’s company, R.H. Philips, they started Crew Wines in 2005, naming the company in honor of the many staff members who left Phillips to join Crew. Mossback is an old fashioned term for farmer. The name was chosen because it alludes to the Giguiere’s long history in farming as well as the mossy rocks, tree trunks and end posts that dot the landscape of this cool climate growing area.

Tasting notes

Granny Smith apples highlight the aroma with under tones of grapefruit, vanilla, and toasty oak. Crisp green apples, kiwi, lime and tangerine dance on the palate balanced by subtle flavors of sweet cream and custard. Vibrant, juicy and refreshing, enjoy this wine with a Waldorf or chopped salad. Mossback Chardonnay has the acidity to stand up to heavier dishes as well, such as fettuccini alfredo or chicken curry.

Wine maker notes

The fruit for our Mossback Chardonnay is grown in the heart of Russian River Valley AVA. The 2011 vintage marks the return of our Aquarius Vineyard, absent over the last three years due to replanting. Deciding when to pick is the most critical decision in this cool region. Patience is the key as some years the fruit does not fully mature until November giving rise to constant worry about rain and frost. When Mother Nature cooperates, we get the most intensely flavored wine around. We cold ferment 80% of this wine to preserve and enhance that crisp fruity character; we barrel ferment the remainder to add subtle oak and vanilla richness. We also blend a small amount of our Dunnigan Hills Chardonnay to increase complexity and add tropical notes.

Other text

RUSTIC MOSSBACK Mossback is an old fashioned term for farmer. The Giguiere family has a long history of farming, and for the Mossback brand we have sought fruit from some of the most renowned farmers in the Russian River Valley. The name also conjures up images of the mossy rocks, tree trunks and end posts that are so prevalent in the cool Russian River Valley. About the Appellation This brand consists of a Russian River Valley Chardonnay, a Russian River Valley Pinot Noir and a Cabernet Sauvignon from the Chalk Hill appellation.