2024 Martha Stoumen Honeymoon

Grape Varietal: Colombard / Chardonnay

Country: United States

Region: Redwood Valley, Mendocino County, California

The Wine: Martha Stoumen is a Northern California winemaker and farmer whose label — founded in 2014 and rooted in organic, dry-farmed viticulture — draws on her background in traditional agricultural systems and hands-on time in Italy. She farms roughly half her vineyards herself and works with a small circle of multi-generational growers who share her philosophy of soil health and vine longevity over yield.

Honeymoon is made from 70% old-vine Colombard and 30% Chardonnay: the Colombard sourced from head-trained, dry-farmed vines planted in 1948 at Ricetti Vineyard in Redwood Valley on gravelly loam soils, certified organic; the Chardonnay from 1970s plantings at nearby Hawkeye Ranch, farmed organically by fifth-generation grower Pete Johnson. Both varieties are pressed immediately, settled overnight, and fermented separately in neutral oak barrique on native yeasts through primary and malolactic fermentation, then aged on fine lees for six months before blending, with an additional three months of barrel age post-blend.

Unfined and unfiltered, 369 cases produced.

Honeymoon 2024 is a structured, lees-driven expression of old-vine Colombard at its most complex. It opens with aromas of white flowers, toasted almond, and Golden Delicious apple, lifted by a bright seam of lemon pith. On the palate, it is full and waxy in texture with a tensile acidity underneath, and a finish of Jonagold apple skin and subtle oxidative nuttiness that lingers with focus and length.

Pairing: A whole roasted trout with brown butter and capers, ricotta crostini with honey and fresh thyme, butter-poached leeks with a soft egg and flaky salt, or a long Sunday lunch where someone has taken the time to make a proper grain salad and the windows are finally open.