Celebrate World Chardonnay Day on Thursday May 23rd, 2024.
Chardonnay is the world’s most popular white wine – by far!
Chardonnay is also one of the three main grapes that are used for Champagne and Sparkling Wine production.
Chardonnay’s spiritual homeland is Burgundy (pictured), in France, where it is responsible for the wines known as Chablis and Macon as well as the Village, Premier and Grand Cru wines of the Côte d’Or.
Chardonnay offers a wonderful spectrum of flavours, from those of lemon and apple through to exotic, tropical fruits and spices.
It seems there is a chardonnay to please just about every palate! So what makes it so appealing?
Wine consumers love it! Chardonnay offers a range of styles, from crisp ‘Chablis’ style examples, to rich and buttery versions.
Viticulturists love it! It grows well in a range of climates and soils. It achieves a good level of ripeness, is impervious to disease and apart from spring frosts, climatic threats are limited during the passage of the vineyard year through good vineyard management.
Winemakers love it too! Chardonnay is a versatile variety that thrives in a range of climates and soils. As well as achieving a good level of ripeness, it is relatively resistant to disease, and apart from spring frosts, climatic threats are limited during the passage of the year.
Key Facts About Chardonnay
Chardonnay’s spiritual homeland is Burgundy in France, although there is evidence that links it back to Lebanon in the Middle East. In France it is responsible for the wines known as Chablis and Macon as well as the Village, Premier and Grand Cru wines of the Côte d’Or.
Chardonnay is the consummate world traveler. Since the 1960s chardonnay has migrated to all wine growing countries and is produced around the globe.
Chardonnay wines are medium straw in colour, deepening to rich yellow and gold with age. Rarely do you see a chardonnay that is pale white in colour, although we have come a long way from the deep heavy yellows of new world chardonnays produced in the 1970s and 1980s.
Chardonnay has lots of flavour but this is balanced by a good deal of natural acidity. This balance lends itself to depth of flavour and all well made chardonnays have plenty of dimensions to enjoy.
