Capo Isetta Chardonnay (2023)

About this wine

Capo Isetta 2023 Chardonnay is a broad, friendly California Chardonnay built around generous fruit rather than heavy oak. The nose opens with pineapple, Bartlett pear, baked apple, and a touch of lemon curd, giving it an inviting, sunny feel. On the palate, it leans into pear, melon, apricot, and a little mango, with enough citrus to keep the wine lively and fresh. The texture is soft and rounded, but the fruit stays clear and bright from start to finish. This is the kind of Chardonnay that feels instantly familiar, yet more polished than the category often suggests. The Capo Isetta name nods to an Italian American family story tied to California wine, and that sense of warmth shows in the wine’s open, approachable style.

About the grape

Chardonnay began in Burgundy in eastern France and became the backbone of white wine there before cuttings spread worldwide, arriving in California in the early 20th century where families like Wente and researchers at UC Davis shaped the clonal material. In California growers selected clones and training methods to suit warmer sun and diverse soils, with Wente and later Dijon clones becoming common because they balance yield and flavor. For the 2023 Capo Isetta Chardonnay the winery relies on Sonoma Valley growers such as the Sangiacomo and Gavallos families, whose cooler valley sites, varied alluvial and loam soils, and careful canopy work help preserve acidity and varietal character. In this bottling the vine management and selected clonal material are employed to deliver clean, site driven fruit that fits Capo Isetta’s family focused sourcing model.

Quick facts

• 🏡 Capo Isetta’s 2023 Chardonnay is made by a small family-owned Sonoma Valley project, so each vintage reflects close family involvement rather than mass production.
• 🇮🇹 The brand leans into the Isetta family’s Italian-American roots, and the name Capo Isetta gives the wine a playful Old-World nod while being made from California fruit.
• 🌱 Capo Isetta regularly releases limited small-batch wines like this 2023 Chardonnay, meaning bottles often come from select local vineyards rather than a single large estate vineyard.
• 🎓 The producer uses wine releases and donations to support local causes — Capo Isetta has donated bottles to scholarship and community wine events, linking this Chardonnay to local philanthropy.
• 💸 When released direct from the winery the 2023 Chardonnay is priced around the approachable $20 mark, offering a value-focused California Chardonnay experience that’s easy to find at local Sonoma retailers and lists.

Palate profile

Producer

Capo Isetta is a family-owned winery in Sonoma, California, with a rich heritage rooted in the wine industry. The Isetta family's involvement dates back to the 1920s when Giacomo "Giac" Isetta excelled as a cooper, crafting wine barrels. His son, Andy Isetta, continued the tradition by working at the Christian Brothers Winery and later founding the Old Pioneer Wine Company in San Francisco. Today, Capo Isetta honors this legacy by producing limited-production wines that reflect the character and complexity of Sonoma Valley's terroir. Their tasting room, located on the historic Sonoma Plaza, has become a welcoming gathering place for both locals and visitors.