Grape Varieties: Chardonnay
Do you know the most widely planted white grape variety? Ok, the title gave it away, its Chardonnay! One of the reasons for this is it is so versatile. It is possible to grow Chardonnay in cool climates such as Northern France, The UK and even Canada. But you can also find it in much warmer climates such as California and Australia. In cooler climates it tends to lean towards citrus fruits, green apple. In warmer climates peachy flavours, melon and tropical fruits such as banana and pineapple can develop.
About the Chardonnay Grape
The grape is generally early budding and early ripening. It can suffer the effects of spring frosts as a result. It is considered to be a non-aromatic variety. This means it is generally a good blank canvas for a winemaker. It lends itself to wine making processes which emphasise and impact different flavours. Chardonnay will often undergoes malolactic conversion which softens the acids. It is also sometimes lees aged, bringing out flavours of nuts and mushroom.
The grape we love to hate
When you read the word Chardonnay it may have made you shudder. During the 1990s it was popular to produce Chardonnay in a heavily oaked style, which put many people off. So much so that we refer to the ABC movement. Or Anything But Chardonnay! This is in reference to people’s preference to drink any other wine. But unoaked, and indeed sensitively oaked, Chardonnay can be phenomenal.
Profile
While the profile of Chardonnay can vary greatly depending on techniques and location, the grape is generally considered:
- Low to Medium Acidity
- Typically dry in style
- Medium Alcohol
- Low to Medium Bodied
- No Tannin
As we have said above flavours can be many and varied depending on location. But include: Citrus fruits, Green Fruit, Stone Fruits, Tropical Fruits, Butter, Vanilla, Toast, nuts, mushroom and baking spices.
Sparkling wine
The other reason the Chardonnay is so widely planted is that it is tend to make a great sparkling wine. This can be on its own – A Blanc de Blancs, or as a blend. The best example would be Champagne, but there are plenty of others throughout the world.
Production
It is fair to say Chardonnay is grown almost everywhere wine is made. The largest concentrations are in France, the United States, Australia and Italy. These are closely followed by Chile and South Africa. Notable quality examples come from Burgundy, Chablis, California and Australia. Some wines can be aged up to 10 years.
So have I convinced you that Chardonnay might be worth giving a go? Or were you already a fan? Why not let me know? In the meantime, keep exploring this beautiful planet we live on, one glass at a time!