The Ultimate Guide to Chardonnay

It’s no surprise Chardonnay is one of the world’s favorite white wines. Made across the globe and available widely at varying price points, it can deliver a diversity of food-friendly fruit flavors in a range of styles, and is a veritable blank canvas for winemakers’ craft and climactic influence.

Read on to gain a basic understanding of this delicious white wine.

What is Chardonnay Wine?

Pronounced char-don-nay, Chardonnay is a white wine made from a green-skinned grape of the same name.

Native to France, Chardonnay grapes can adapt easily to a variety of climates and are now grown and vinified into still and sparkling wines around the world.

Finished wines can offer a range of tastes and temperaments. Generally, however, Chardonnay is a mediu- to full-bodied dry wine that can range from light straw to gold in color. It has moderate acidity, and subtle fruit aromas and flavors that can vary depending where and how it’s made.

What Does Chardonnay Wine Taste Like?

Though fairly neutral compared to other white wines, Chardonnay’s flavors can vary greatly.

Versions from cooler climates are often lean, with medium to high acidity, flinty or chalky minerality, and orchard fruit and citrus notes. Chardonnay wines from warmer climates are typically full bodied, with less acidity and riper, tropical fruit characteristics.

In the cellar, Chardonnay responds well to myriad fermentation and aging techniques, which can also alter the wine’s flavors.

For instance, if Chardonnay undergoes a process called malolactic fermentation, a secondary fermentation that converts the wine’s harsher malic acid to softer lactic acid, it can have creamy, buttery notes, along with flavors of butterscotch or crème brûlée.

Extended lees aging, that is, maturing the wine on top of undisturbed, naturally occurring dead yeast cells, can further impact the taste of Chardonnay. The process adds body and can impart doughy and biscuity qualities.

The vessel in which Chardonnay wine is kept and aged plays a role, too. When aged in stainless steel, Chardonnay wines exhibit more of the grape’s fresh fruit tones. If aged in oak barrels, the resulting wine can showcase flavors of vanilla, spice and caramel, and can have more weight on the palate.

Is Chardonnay a Dry or Sweet Wine?

Chardonnay is typically dry, meaning it has little to no residual sugar and is not technically sweet to the taste. However, examples from warmer growing that develop intense tropical fruit notes can have a perceived sweetness.

Oak aging, which makes the wine richer and can add somewhat decadent notes of brioche and caramel, can also make Chardonnay seem sweeter.

What are the Best Chardonnay Wine Regions?

Chardonnay is one of the most widely planted white grape varieties worldwide and thrives almost everywhere other than the planet’s extremes. Arguably, the most important cool climate regions to know include Burgundy and Champagne in France, the Sonoma Coast and Santa Barbara Coast regions in California, England, Tasmania, New Zealand and Ontario in Canada. The most important warm climate regions to know include southern Italy, South Australia, the bulk of South Africa, Chile and most of California.

Here's a wide lens look at some of its major growing regions:

France The birthplace of Chardonnay offers diverse styles across the country’s wine regions. In Burgundy, the cool- climate appellation of Chablis produces mineral-driven, leaner Chardonnay, while the Côte de Beaune produces fuller-bodied, complex wines that are often aged in oak barrels. Farther south, warmer areas like Languedoc-Roussillon create fruit-forward, approachable styles. Chardonnay is also a key player in the production of Champagne, France’s most iconic sparkling wine, where it thrives in the Côte des Blancs and as the grape variety behind the region’s iconic Blanc de Blancs wines.

North America In the US, California is the most famous Chardonnay producer, known for its rich expressions of the grape. However, Chardonnay is also grown and vinified in New York, Oregon, Washington, Texas and beyond. Up north, vintners in Canada’s Niagara and British Columbia regions make Chardonnay with bright acidity and a balance of fruit and minerality.

Chile Chilean Chardonnay is primarily grown in the country’s cooler regions like the Casablanca Valley and the Limari Valley. There, styles can range from crisp to creamy, and often feature ripe citrus flavors highlighted by vibrant acidity.

Australia and New Zealand In Australia, the Margaret River region and the Yarra Valley are known for full-bodied Chardonnay wines with noticeable oak influence and ripe fruit flavors. New Zealand’s Marlborough and Hawke’s Bay regions produce versions with bright acidity, a crisp fruit character and very little oak influence.

South Africa Grown mostly in Stellenbosch and the Western Cape’s Robertson area, South African Chardonnay often showcases tropical fruit flavors with a hint of citrus, complemented by well-integrated oak influences. However, crispy, unoaked versions are also available.

England English Chardonnay is typically grown in cooler climate regions like Kent, Sussex and Hampshire. Their wines are often vinified in a crisp, elegant Chablis-like style, showcasing the grape’s acidity and flavors of green apple, pear and citrus. Many English wineries also use Chardonnay for sparkling wine production.

Chardonnay vs Sauvignon Blanc

Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are two popular white wines that are often compared. Yet, they are made from different grapes and have distinct aromatic and flavor differences.

Chardonnay is typically medium to full bodied with a creamy texture, especially if it’s been aged in oak. Its flavors range from fresh green apple and citrus to juicy peach and pineapple, and it can also express notes of vanilla and brioche.

Sauvignon Blanc is typically light to medium bodied with high acidity. It’s rarely aged in oak. Crisp and refreshing, it’s known for citrus and green fruit flavors, plus grassy or herbal tones.

How Many Calories are in a Glass of Chardonnay?

On average, a 5-ounce glass of dry Chardonnay contains approximately 120-130 calories. However, the calorie content in a glass of Chardonnay will vary depending on the wine you’ve selected.

What Foods Pair Well with Chardonnay Wine?

Thanks to its moderate acidity, and abundant styles and flavors, Chardonnay is a popular partner for food.

Though its best match will vary depending on the style of Chardonnay, here are some common pairings:

Poultry Fuller-bodied and buttery, oak-aged versions can echo the savory notes and texture of the meat, while leaner, more acid-driven expressions can enliven poultry’s neutral tastes or complement roasted and grilled preparations.

Seafood Richer types of seafood like lobster or salmon match well with an oaked Chardonnay’s full body and complexity. A crisp, unoaked Chardonnay, on the other hand, can be an excellent match for lighter, flaky fish or seafood salads.

Cheese Creamy, tangy cheeses like goat cheese and Brie are complemented by unoaked Chardonnay’s citrusy freshness and acidity. Mature, hard cheeses can stand up to the richer, full-bodied style of oaked Chardonnay.

Vegetables An unoaked Chardonnay’s fruit notes will complement grilled vegetables’ naturally sweet and umami flavors. Oaked Chardonnay works well with richer vegetable-based pastas, risottos and soups.

Cream Unoaked Chardonnay provides a fresh contrast to meals with a creamy base like pasta with Alfredo sauce, mushroom risotto or soup. Oak-aged expressions offer a delicious harmony with their creamy texture.

Fruit Desserts Thanks to its shared flavors, unoaked Chardonnay pairs perfectly with fruit tarts or pies, particularly those featuring apples, pears, citrus or peaches.

Should Chardonnay be Chilled?

Like all white wines, Chardonnay is best served chilled. Its ideal serving temperature is 46-50°F, which enhaces the wine without muting its more delicate notes. Before you plan to open a bottle, store it in the fridge for about two hours or place it in an ice bucket for at least 30 minutes.

How to Serve Chardonnay

Chardonnay is best enjoyed in a tulip-shaped wine glass, which has a narrower top and slightly wider base than a traditional glass, and allows the wine’s complex aromas to concentrate near the rim.

Though it’s usually unnecessary to decant white wine, a rich and full-bodied oak-aged Chardonnay may benefit from some exposure to oxygen, which can help release the wine’s aromas.

How Long Does Chardonnay Last?

If kept and resealed properly, upright and in the refrigerator, an opened bottle of Chardonnay typically lasts up to five days. However, a fuller-bodied, oak-aged Chardonnay may last up to a week.

In ideal storage conditions, an unopened bottle of Chardonnay can last up to two years. Some high-quality, oak-aged Chardonnays can last even longer. Store your wine bottles horizontally in a cool, dark place at a steady temperature of 50-59°F.

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