Chardonnay
The Grape
Chardonnay was born in the Burgundy region of France, where it is also referred to as “white burgundy”, and it has gained much acclaim for its elegance. It is one of the most recognized and widely planted white wine grapes, made from green skinned grapes. Chardonnay is a fairly low maintenance vine that adapts really well to a number of different climate types. Around the world, Chardonnay is also used in a wide range of sparkling wines.
The Wines
Describing the flavours of a Chardonnay can be very challenging because they differ based on different winemaking techniques. They boast impressive ranges from the expected butter and oak to fresh fruit flavours of citrus, apple and tropical fruits. While many Chardonnays have high aromatic complexity, others can have smoky, vanilla and spice notes due to barrel fermentation or distinctive buttery aromas due to malolactic fermentation.
The Occasions
Chardonnay has different textures, styles, and levels of sweetness and acidity making it an easy match for any wine and food pairing. Chardonnay is perfect to serve when hosting a formal dinner party when you want to impress your guests. It pairs well with most poultry, seafood or pork dishes.
