Chasing Ether is the personal project of winemaker Jon Berlin, a name many will recognize from his multi-decade run crafting some of Napa Valley’s greatest Chardonnay and Pinot Noir at El Molino. Drawing upon his years of experience navigating the nuances of premium California fruit, Jon focuses on capturing the raw energy of unique and tucked away vineyard sites like Wilson Farms in Clarksburg and the Gimelli Vineyard in the Cienega Valley. The 2024 White is a masterfully crafted blend, featuring Chenin Blanc and Gimelli fruit that was whole-cluster pressed and aged for eleven months on primary lees in neutral French oak. This extended time on the lees, combined with natural fermentations, results in a wine of incredible character; it opens with a focused nose of Asian pear, quince, and white peach, accented by a refreshing lift of lemongrass. On the palate, the wine is impressively viscous yet smoothly textured, balanced by a bright acidity and complex, earth-driven notes of wet stone and lanolin. With only 142 cases produced, this is an under-the-radar white that shows the incredible quality hiding in some of California’s less traveled AVAs.