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Beringer, Chardonnay (California, NV)
WhiteUnited StatesNV
By Daniel Min · Tasted 2019-12-14 · Published 2026-09-14 · Updated 2026-09-14
At a glance
In one line
3.0/5 — lower than Vivino's 3.6 average · world avg price US$5 · Beringer, founded 1876 and Napa Valley's oldest continuously operating winery, makes this entry-level California Chardonnay.
Critic listed on Vivino: 89 (Oct 2018) · 87 (Mar 2016) · 88 (Dec 2012), repeating in the 86–89 range year after year
Market note: Price confirmation pending (US$5 per 750ml ex-tax (Wine-Searcher, Aug 2026)). Beringer was founded in 1876 in St. Helena, Napa Valley, and is generally counted as Napa's oldest continuously operating winery (it was also the first in California to offer public tours and tastings after Prohibition ended in 1934). This California Chardonnay is the brand's entry-level, mass-production line.
Father's note — Daniel Min
Original author of the notes“Pretty good with California pizza. Crisp chardonnay.”
What I learned today: set one humble glass in a place polished till it shines, and that's a feast.
Saturday, three in the afternoon, Master Seo texted. "Big clean. Come early." When I got there, every chair was upturned on the counter. Master Seo took the bottles down from the shelves one by one to wipe off the dust, and I mopped the floor. Minjae came too. He held a mop and cleaned the same spot for an hour.
At five-thirty, before opening, Master Seo poured each of us a white. "Good work." Peach, apple, then butter and vanilla. Maybe because I was hungry, the butter smelled like the crust of baked bread.
That crust brought a night back. A Saturday in early winter when I was twenty-one, the window clouding over with steam. An open pizza box sat in the middle of the table, and steam rose from it too. Father poured a cold white from a cloth-wrapped bottle and pushed a slice of pizza onto my plate. The cheese stretched long. I don't know the bottle's name.
The notebook starts with the pizza: "Pretty good with California pizza. Crisp chardonnay." Three stars. A day he wrote down a pairing instead of a list of aromas. When I asked what "crisp" meant, Master Seo said only, "It means the finish is clean." Maybe that evening the star wasn't the bottle but the table.
At six, with all the chairs down, I switched on the sign. An hour earlier than usual. What I learned today: set one humble glass in a place polished till it shines, and that's a feast.
What this wine is
Beringer was founded in 1876 in St. Helena, Napa Valley, by Jacob Beringer, and is generally counted as Napa's oldest continuously operating winery. The Beringer family sold to Nestlé in 1971; the winery then passed through Texas Pacific Group (1996) and Foster's Group (2000s) before joining Treasury Wine Estates in 2011. This California Chardonnay is the cheapest, entry-level line within that brand — 100% Chardonnay, listed on Vivino at 14.6% alcohol.
What the world says
The Vivino community of 3,504 rates it 3.6 on average. Critic scores listed on Vivino repeat year after year, mostly in the 86–89 range (89 in 2018 is the high point) — a steady, decent, crowd-pleasing Chardonnay rather than anything remarkable. The flavor notes lead with oak, vanilla and butter (120 mentions), followed by peach-and-apple stone fruit (114) and citrus (70). At 4.5/5 intensity it has some heft, though acidity sits at an unremarkable 3.0. Vintage by vintage, aside from a 2.7 in 2009, it stays mostly between 3.3 and 3.8.
How I drank it
December 14, 2019, 3.0 stars. "Pretty good with California pizza. Crisp chardonnay."
The same day I logged Clos du Val Pinot Noir 2016 at 4.0 — also in this batch. The note is short, so I won't add interpretation beyond it. My 3.0 is 0.6 below the Vivino community's 3.6.
Vivino community data
NV vintage rating distribution (3504 ratings, average 3.6)
| 5★ | 252 (7%) | |
| 4★ | 1219 (35%) | |
| 3★ | 1676 (48%) | |
| 2★ | 295 (8%) | |
| 1★ | 62 (2%) |
Most-mentioned aromas
| Family | Mentions | Top keywords |
|---|---|---|
| Oak | 120 | oak 46 · vanilla 36 · butter 35 · baking spice 1 · brown bread 1 |
| Stone fruit | 114 | peach 45 · apple 31 · pear 18 · apricot 7 · melon 4 |
| Citrus | 70 | citrus 46 · lemon 15 · grapefruit 4 · citrus zest 1 · lemon zest 1 |
| Tropical fruit | 45 | pineapple 21 · tropical 18 · mango 4 · jackfruit 1 · lychee 1 |
| Earth | 28 | honey 11 · minerals 6 · stone 5 · smoke 2 · earthy 1 |
Structure: Acidity 3.0/5 · Intensity 4.5/5 · Sweetness 3.0/5
Average by vintage (all vintages: 3504 ratings, average 3.6)
| Vintage | Average | Ratings |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 2.7 | 38 |
| 2010 | 3.6 | 91 |
| 2011 | 3.3 | 131 |
| 2012 | 3.5 | 349 |
| 2013 | 3.5 | 421 |
| 2014 | 3.6 | 425 |
| 2015 | 3.5 | 228 |
| 2016 | 3.7 | 308 |
| 2017 | 3.5 | 286 |
| 2018 | 3.7 | 429 |
| 2019 | 3.6 | 140 |
| 2020 | 3.6 | 63 |
| 2021 | 3.7 | 155 |
| 2022 | 3.8 | 82 |
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→Frequently asked questions
What kind of wine is Beringer's California Chardonnay?
The entry-level California Chardonnay from Beringer, founded 1876 and Napa Valley's oldest continuously operating winery. 100% Chardonnay, 14.6% alcohol, a style built on oak, vanilla and butter over peach and apple. Vivino community average: 3.6 (3,504 ratings).
How much does it cost?
Price confirmation pending (US$5 per 750ml ex-tax (Wine-Searcher, Aug 2026)).
What food pairs with it?
The Vivino community suggests pork, vegetarian dishes, poultry, and rich fish like salmon and tuna. In practice, it held up fine with pizza too.
How does it compare to Beringer's higher-tier wines?
This California Chardonnay is the cheapest, mass-produced tier within Beringer. The brand also runs higher Napa Valley Reserve-level lines separately, but this label's precise vineyard sourcing and oak regimen aren't listed beyond "California."
Links & sources
View on Vivino · Prices on Wine-Searcher
- Vivino — wine page and community data
- Wikipedia — Beringer Vineyards
- VinePair — 7 Things You Should Know About Beringer Vineyards
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