Chardonnay grape variety on vine in South Tyrol, Italy, ready for harvest.
Credit to photo: Shutterstock/lorenza62
Text by: Gleb King
Chardonnay is one of the most popular white grape varieties in the world. It’s a symbol of white wine in general and one of the most widely planted grapes for winemaking across the globe. It is versatile and adaptive to many terroirs, it grows well in any wine region from north to south. Winemakers say chardonnay is a blank piece of paper – it can produce wine of any style and character – from light, fresh and mineral, to oily, nutty and creamy – depending on the winemaker's choices and terroir. Chardonnay is well known as a base for Champagne and the variety for white Burgundy.
Aromas and flavors
Chardonnay is a so-called neutral grape variety and, depending on winemaking style, may be of a very different taste and scent. Basically, chardonnay is a pale golden color wine with light notes of green apple, citrus and almonds. But if a winemaker decides to add some grape stems, reserve wine on sediment, add some barrel aging, chardonnay may turn into a creamy, toasty deep-golden wine with tones of nutmeg, honey and burned sugar.
Regions and styles
There are two historic homelands of Chardonnay and, of course, both of them are in France. First is Burgundy and Chablis where dozens of appellations (Meursault, Puligny and Chassagne Monrtachet, Cotes de Beaune, all the Chablis AOCs) specialize on white wines made of Chardonnay. The second – is Champagne where Chardonnay is a base for most popular sparkling wines in the world. Other regions where Chardonnay is common are scattered across the globe: Napa Valley’s Chardonnay from Chateau Montelena has won the famous wine contest called Judgement of Paris, outrunning the best Burgundy. Spain’s Navarre region is famous for its creamy and full-bodied Chardonnays. New Zealand’s cool climate Chardonnay is a brand itself. The variety is cultivated even in Canada where you can find fantastic Chardonnay icewines.
Food pairings
Due to its versatility, Chardonnay wine has a plethora of styles. It may be fresh and light, aged for a short period in stainless steel – then, its best companion are light appetizers or gently cooked lean seafood – steamed white fish or vongole pasta. If you prefer a big, full-bodied and creamy Chardonnays – it goes well with grilled seafood and vegetables, and even some lean poultry. In the case of Champagne – there is a huge list of pairings, from many kinds of sweet desserts, to any type of appetizers.
