From Sparrow’s white wine list, the Rex Hill Chardonnay is an elegant Oregon white from a long-respected Willamette Valley name ($100 by the bottle). It is a refined, food-loving bottle we are happy to feature here in Kirkland.
About Rex Hill Chardonnay
Rex Hill is a celebrated winery in Newberg, Oregon, in the heart of the Willamette Valley. It was founded in 1982 by Paul Hart and Jan Jacobsen and built around an old fruit and nut drying facility, opening its doors in 1985. For more than forty years Rex Hill has crafted graceful Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from one of the world’s great cool-climate regions. In 2007 the winery was acquired by the two families behind A to Z Wineworks, who sharply reduced production to focus on quality and distinction. The Willamette Valley is prized for Chardonnay precisely because its cool growing season preserves natural acidity and lets the wines develop nuance and minerality rather than heavy weight. Rex Hill’s long track record in the valley makes it one of the names Oregon Chardonnay drinkers reach for with confidence.
Tasting Notes
This Chardonnay leads with ripe notes of yellow apple, pear, and lemon, with oak aromas supporting rather than dominating the abundant fruit. On the palate it is savory, with a pronounced brininess and an exciting through-line of minerality. The acidity is brisk and well integrated with the ripe fruit, giving the wine both generosity and energy. It is a Chardonnay with real precision and a long, satisfying finish.
What to Pair It With
The producer themselves point to creamy and seafood dishes, and we agree. From the Sparrow dinner menu, pour it with the Burrata Avocado, the Wild Alaskan Halibut, the Scallops and Prosciutto, or the Seafood Chowder. It is also wonderful with the Pacific Black Cod.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Rex Hill Chardonnay from?
It is a Chardonnay from Rex Hill, a winery in Newberg in the Willamette Valley, Oregon, founded in 1982 and known for elegant cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
How much is the Rex Hill Chardonnay at Sparrow?
It is $100 by the bottle at Sparrow in Kirkland.
What does Rex Hill Chardonnay taste like?
It shows ripe yellow apple, pear, and lemon with supportive oak, a savory and briny palate, pronounced minerality, and brisk, well-integrated acidity.
Find it on the Sparrow beverages menu near the Weather Chardonnay and the Champs Perdrix White Burgundy. We are in Kirkland’s Juanita neighborhood on the Eastside, so reserve a table and come taste it.