2021 Wachira Black Label, Buffalo Chardonnay, Lodi Valley, California

The 2021 Wachira Black Label Buffalo Chardonnay, representing the "Buffalo" of the brand's #winesafari, offers a distinctive California experience that balances rich tropical fruit with crisp acidity. It is characterized by vibrant aromas of pineapple, pear, peach, and mango, layered with nuances of butter, baking spice, toasted oak, and cream. This medium-plus bodied wine is dry on the palate yet maintains a smooth, approachable finish with lingering notes of lemon and melon. 

Wachira Wines, founded by the first Kenyan-born Californian winemaker, Dr. Chris Wachira, is a minority-owned winery bridging Kenyan heritage with Californian grapes to craft balanced wines that complement flavorful cuisines, addressing the underrepresentation of Black individuals in the industry by creating inclusive experiences and mentoring others through ventures like Karibu Wine Lounge and a wine incubator program. Dr. Wachira, with a background in health care and STEM, was driven to make wines that matched her family's Kenyan cooking, leading to award-winning vintages known for pairing well with diverse foods, embodying her mission for representation, equity, and community building in wine.