FINDING A NICE CHARD

[Zinner]

Perhaps the Beckmans you're looking for is Beckmen Vineyards in the Santa Barbara wine country of California. Yes, they have a lovely Chardonnay and a food-friendly zippy Sauvignon Blanc.

They have 365 hillside acres with limestone soils like those found in France in their Purisima Mountain Vineyard. Their Syrah is absolutely superb. And the Cuvee Le Bec(Grenache/Mourvedre/Syrah) has a darn high yum factor too. Juicy, slightly jammy raspberry and blueberry spiked by peppery spice.

If you want to stick to Chardonnay and want to try some from that area, it would be hard to beat those from Jim Clendenen at Au Bon Climat. And for more Rhones, check out Qupe...another winemaker, Bob Lindquist, working out of the same facility.

Good luck!