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One of the so-called international varietals, Chardonnay is a white wine grape grown all around the world. It is quite easy to grow, and adapts well to many different climates.
Chardonnay is a versatile white wine produced in many different styles, from the elegant whites of Chablis to the rich, buttery Meursaults and the fruit-flavored New World wines. It lets winemakers craft wines that express many of their own opinions about winemaking.
edit Aromas
The natural aromas of Chardonnay can surprise many wine drinkers, as they are often disguised with winemaking signatures. Its fruit aromas lean toward crisp apples, pears, and lemon, but Chardonnay’s full body is capable of supporting complementary characteristics such as oak, butter, and vanilla.
Chardonnay has been subject to much criticism over the years. A concept exists among some white drinkers called "ABC", an acronym that stands for Anything but Chardonnay. It describes a state of mind that disregards Chardonnay as a cheap, over-exposed, gateway wine that only inexperienced wine drinkers would order.
Part of this lousy reputation stems from the fact that it was fashionable in California, for many years, to use excessive oak and malolactic fermentation in the making of Chardonnay. The result of this kind of heavyhandedness is an often cloying, fat, oaky buttery wine that pairs poorly with food, with virtually all the natural characteristics of the grape masked.
In fact, an unoaked Chardonnay, having undergone no malolactic fermentation, will probably have notes of green apple, lemon, and lime zest, with bright acid, making it a good pair for many foods.
Chardonnay's natural expressiveness of terroir shines with tentalizing complexity in the varied soils and microclimates of Burgundy. A Meursault, for instance, may have a distinct hazelnutty depth, while a Pouilly-Fuisse will lean toward tropical fruit aromas like pineapple. In Burgundy, winemakers do use oak and malolactic fermentation, but with delicacy and balance.
edit Regions
In France, Chardonnay is the second most widely planted white grape variety just behind Ugni blanc and ahead of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc. The grape first rose to prominence in the Chablis sub-region of Burgundy, where it is thought to have originated. It is also the white grape of Champagne, and any Champagne that says Blanc de Blancs on the label is 100% Chardonnay. The grape can also be found in Loire Valley and Jura wines, as well as some Vin de Pays appellations around the country.
In California, Chardonnay is by far the most widely planted grape crop, comprising over 40% of all white varieties crushed in the state in 2000. Chardonnay is also noteworthy in more northerly parts of North America such as Oregon, Washington and more recently, British Columbia.
Chardonnay is also widely planted in Australia, New Zealand and Italy.
It can also be found in the cooler climate sites of Greece, Israel and Lebanon, as well as in Austria, Bulgaria, England, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Moldova, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland.
edit Viticulture
This grape has a reputation for relative ease of cultivation and ability to adapt to different conditions. It greatly reflects its terroir and its winemaker's touch. It is a highly vigorous vine, with extensive leaf cover which can inhibit the energy and nutrient uptake of its grape clusters.
Chardonnay tends to lose acidity rapidly as grapes reach ripeness. This means that winemakers in warmer regions must closely watch its acids. The impressive natural bulk of Chardonnay can easily turn "clumsy and dumb" without suitable levels of balancing acidity.
While Chardonnay can adapt to almost all vineyard soils, the three it seems to like most are chalk, clay and limestone.
edit Other names used
- Arboisier
- Arnaison Blanc
- Arnoison
- Aubaine
- Auvergnat Blanc
- Auvernas Blanc
- Auvernat Blanc
- Auxeras
- Auxeras Blanc
- Auxerrois Blanc
- Auxois Blanc
- Bargeois Blanc
- Beaunois
- Blanc de Champagne
- Breisgauer Süßling
- Chablis
- Chardenay
- Chardenei
- Chardenet
- Chardennet
- Chardonnay Blanc
- Chardonnet
- Chatenait
- Chatey Petit
- Chaudenay
- Chaudenet
- Clävner
- Clevner Weiss
- Epinette Blanche
- Epinette de Champagne
- Ericey Blanc
- Fehér Burgundi
- Fehér Chardonnay
- Feinburgunder
- Gamay Blanc
- Gelber Burgunder
- Gelber Weißburgunder
- Gentil Blanc
- Grosse Bourgogne
- Klawner
- Klevanjka Biela
- Klevner
- Lisant
- Luisant
- Luizannais
- Luizant
- Luzannois
- Mâconnais
- Maurillon Blanc
- Melon Blanc
- Melon d'Arbois
- Moreau Blanc
- Morillon
- Morillon Blanc
- Moulon
- Noirien Blanc
- Obaideh
- Petit Chatey
- Petite Sainte-Marie
- Pineau Blanc Chardonnay
- Pino Sardone
- Pinot Blanc
- Pinot Chardonnay
- Plant de Tonnerre
- Romeret
- Rousseau
- Roussot
- Sardone
- Shardonne
- Weißer Ruländer
