The Mer Soleil vineyard is named after the two elements that greatly affect its growing conditions: sun and sea; located in the northern-most site of the Santa Lucia Highlands appellation it is the closest vineyard in the appellation to the Monterey Bay. During the growing season, warmer inland temperatures at the southern end of the Salinas Valley pull morning and evening fogs into the vineyard. By contrast, the afternoons are evenly warm and sunny. A brisk wind that arises almost every afternoon from Monterey Bay works as natural air conditioning for the vines, providing for slow ripening of fruit. In addition, the absence of rain throughout he growing season keeps the grapes dry and pristine. The result is one of the coolest, driest vineyard sites in California.
 Chuck Wagner makes the viticultural and harvesting decisions while his son, Charlie, is the winemaker. They have increased the complexity of the wine they make by planting nine different Chardonnay clones in the vineyard which are vinified separately. All are barrel fermented in oak barrels and undergo various different degrees of malolactic fermentation and barrel ageing on the lees.
 Mer Soleil Chardonnay has been produced since the 1992 vintage. In 2002 the Wagners released a late harvest white wine, Mer Soleil LATE, which showcases the vineyard’s ability to produce a late-season, Botrytis Cinerea affected dessert wine from Viognier vines.