Should you ever have the opportunity to visit California's Artesa Winery, in Napa, you certainly ought to. --- It's been called by many "the Jewel of Carneros," and with the winery's panoramic hilltop views and the avant-garde visitor center - where Spanish architect Domingo Triay combines natural surroundings with contemporary design - it's obvious how the 350-acre Artesa estate and winery came to be called a "jewel." The silent and audible flowing water and fountains of the estate, alone, are magnificent.

I recently had the opportunity to taste some Chardonnays from Artesa, and they seemed to be made with care, not to mention nearly 500 years of winemaking experience and savvy, dating back to the early Codorniu wines made in Spain.

Artesa Elements Chardonnay ($16) has subtle oak, good balance and bright fruit flavors. But, step up a few bucks to Artesa Carneros Chardonnay ($20) and you'll discover a Chardonnay with more richness and gorgeous aromatics. There are white flower notes on the nose, along with peach and pear flavors on the palate, combined with good minerality: a lovely wine for 20 bucks. Bump the budget up another ten dollars and it'll afford you a chance to sip Artesa Carneros Estate Reserve Chardonnay ($30), a complex wine with a lingering finish - one you may want to drink now, but is very well-structured and will get even better with aging.