Smashberry wine bottle
The 2019 Smashberry Chardonnay offers juicy flavours. Credit: Miller Family Wine Company.

Miller Family Wine Company, a Thornhill Companies division, has announced the first release of its Smashberry Chardonnay in the US.

This addition to Smashberry’s portfolio of wines from Paso Robles is claimed to have unconventional flavours, as the firm seeks to break with tradition and establish bold paradigms with the line-up of fruit-forward wines from the Central Coast.

The 2019 Smashberry Chardonnay is a blend of Chardonnay and Viognier, sourced from SIP Certified vineyards in the Paso Robles appellation.

Miller Family Wine Company winemaker Roxie Ward said: “Smashberry is an unconventional brand focused on the diverse blending of varietals to create wines that burst with flavour and juiciness.

“With red and rosé blends already in the market, we wanted to round out Smashberry’s offerings by adding a white wine, and chose Chardonnay for its malleable character. The resulting wine showcases a different side to this traditional varietal.”

With aromas of apple, white peach, apricot and tangerine, the palate of the 2019 Chardonnay offers juicy flavours accented by a silky mouthfeel on the prolonged finish.

Ward added: “Despite being full in body, the wine is aged in 100% stainless steel, which allows its bright fruit flavours and balanced acidity to feel refreshingly silky on the palate.

“The untraditional co-fermentation of Viognier brings in subtle aromas of tangerine and floral jasmine, while adding complexity and length to the finish. This is an enjoyable blend worthy of the Smashberry name, and we look forward to sharing it with wine lovers soon.”

The Thornhill Companies is the umbrella brand of the winegrowing family called the Miller Family, which has been farming in the Central Coast of California for five generations.

Miller Family Wine Company manages several branded wine labels in the US, including J Wilkes, Ballard Lane, Smashberry, Barrel Burner, Butternut and Volunteer wines, as well as control label brands for retailers across the US and the French Camp vineyard in Paso Robles, California.