January 23, 2026 | dr. jekyll & mr. hyde

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

This week we were thinking about how wildly different ranges certain grapes have, making it difficult to discern whether your beef is with the raw material or the winemaking itself. Like maybe you don't actually hate chardonnay, maybe you just don't like oak and malolactic fermentation. Because honestly, chardonnay is a pretty neutral grape, capable of shapeshifting and adapting itself to its surroundings, be that person or place. So we figured we'd tease this out a bit. We're going to be opening two bottles of the same grape - 2 chardonnays, 2 sangioveses - each differing in place of origin and winemaking methodology. One grape, two ways. A Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde tasting. How fun!

Let's explore how terroir and the decisions a winemaker makes in the cellar affects our experience and understanding of a grape just doing its best to grow. 

Here's our case study:
Eminence Road Farms Chardonnay Seneca Lake Lamb's Quarters Vineyard 2022; OMEN Chardonnay Lodi 2022; Stolpman Vineyards 'Love You Bunches' Sangiovese Santa Barbara County 2023; Donatella Cinelli Colombini Rosso di Montalcino DOC 2023

Read on to learn more about what we're sampling, then stop by on Friday from 4-7pm to try them yourself!

Eminence Road Chardonnay Seneca Lake Lamb’s Quarters Vineyard 2022

OMEN Chardonnay Lodi 2022

Stolpman Vineyards 'Love You Bunches' Sangiovese Santa Barbara County 2023

Donatella Cinelli Colombini Rosso di Montalcino DOC 2023