Wine Grape: Chardonnay
Chardonnay is a white wine grape, originally from France, and now one of the most planted white grapes grown throughout the world. Recent testing has shown that Chardonnay is a cross between Pinot Noir and Gouais Blanc, both common grape varieties planted in northwest France in the middle ages.
There is some confusion between Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc, with which, it turns out, Chardonnay is related. Pinot Blanc is a white mutant of Pinot Noir, so it shares some similarities with, and is related to Chardonnay. Chardonnay grows well in a wide variety of climates and soils, and is used to produce various dry, still, sparkling, and dessert wines. It can benefit from oak fermentation and aging, provided it's not overdone.
Synonyms
Also known as Arboisier, Auvernas, Auvernat Blanc, Beaunois, Blanc de Champagne, Chablis, Chardenai, Chardenay, Chardenet, Chardonnet, Chatenait, Chaudenay, Chaudenet, Epinette, Epinette Blanche, Klevner, Maurillon Blanc, Morillon Blanc, Lisant, Luisant, Shardonne, Weisser Ruländer
Where
Australia: Adelaide Hills, Cowra, Eden Valley, Geelong, Granton, Great Western, Hunter Valley, Mornington Peninsula, Macedon, Margaret River, Mudgee, Orange, Padthaway, Pipers River, South East Gippsland, Tamar Valley, Tumbarumba, Yarra Valley
France: Alsace, Beaujolais, Burgundy, Champagne, Jura, Languedoc, Loire Valley, Poitou Charentes, Provence, Rhône
Italy: Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lombardy, Piedmont, Trentino-Alto Adige, Tuscany, Sicily, Umbria, Veneto
USA: California, New York, Oregon, Washington
Also: Argentina, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, Israel, Luxembourg, Marocco, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland
Principal Wines
France: Alsace: Crémant d'Alsace AOC; Beaujolais: Beaujolais AOC, Coteaux-du-Lyonnais AOC; Burgundy: Aloxe-Corton AOC, Auxey-Duresses AOC, Bâtard-Montrachet AOC, Beaune AOC, Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet AOC, Bourgogne AOC, Bourgogne-Côtes-Chalonnaise AOC, Bourgogne-Hautes-Côtes-de-Beaune AOC, Bourgogne-Haute-Côtes-de-Nuits AOC, Chablis AOC, Chablis Grand Cru AOC, Chablis Premier Cru AOC, Chassagne-Montrachet AOC, Chevalier-Montrachet AOC, Chorey-lès-Beaune AOC, Corton AOC, Corton-Charlemagne AOC, Côte-de-Beaune AOC, Côte-de-Nuits-Villages AOC, Crémant-de-Borugogne AOC, Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet AOC, Fixin AOC, Givry AOC, Ladoix AOC, Mâcon AOC, Mâcon-Villages AOC, Maranges AOC, Marsannay AOC, Mercurey AOC, Meursault AOC, Montagny AOC, Monthélie AOC, Montrachet AOC, Morey-Saint-Denis AOC, Musigny AOC, Nuits-Saint-Georges AOC, Pernand-Vergelesses AOC, Petit-Chablis AOC, Pouilly-Fuissé AOC, Pouilly-Loché AOC, Pouilly-Vinzelles AOC, Puligny-Montrachet AOC, Rully AOC, Saint-Aubin AOC, Saint-Romain AOC, Saint-Véran AOC, Santenay AOC, Savigny-lès-Beaune AOC, Viré-Clessé AOC, Vougeot AOC; Champagne: Champgne AOC, Coteaux-Champenois AOC; Jura: Arbois AOC, Côtes-du-Jura AOC, Crémant-du-Jura AOC, L'Etoile AOC, Macvin-du-Jura AOC; Languedoc: Blanquette-de-Limoux AOC, Crémant-de-Limoux AOC, Limoux AOC; Loire Valley: Anjou AOC, Cheverny AOC, Crémant-de-Loire AOC, Orléanais AOC, Saumur AOC, Touraine-Mesland AOC, Valençay AOC; Poitou-Charentes: Haut-Poitou AOC; Provence: Bellet; Rhône: Châtillon-en-Diois AOC
Italy: Emilia-Romagna: Colli Piacentini DOC, Colli di Parma DOC, Colli di Scandiano e di Canossa DOC, Colli Bolognesi DOC, Colli d'Imola DOC, Colli Romagna Centrale DOC, Friuli-Venezia Giulia: Colli Orientali del Friuli DOC, Collio Goriziano or Collio DOC, Friuli-Isonzo or Isonzo del Friuli DOC, Friuli-Annia DOC, Friuli-Aquileia DOC, Friuli-Latisana DOC, Friuli-Grave DOC, Carso DOC; Lombardy: Franciacorta DOCG, Oltrepò Pavese Metodo Classico DOCG, Garda DOC, Garda Colli Montovani DOC, Oltreòo Pavese DOC; Sicily: Delia Nivolelli DOC, Alcamo DOC, Monreale DOC, Contessa Entellina DOC, Menfi DOC, Sambuca di Sicilia DOC, Sciacca DOC, Contea di Sclafani DOC; Trentino-Alto Adige: Trento DOC, , Trentino DOC, Valdadige DOC, Alto Adige or Dell'Alto Adige/Südtirol or Südtiroler DOC; Piedmont: Piemonte DOC, Langhe DOC, Alta Langa DOC; Tuscany: Montescudaio DOC, Cortona DOC, Sant'Antimo DOC, Valdichiana DOC; Umbria: Colli Martani DOC, Colli Perugini DOC, Torgiano DOC; Veneto: Colli Euganei DOC, Arcole DOC, Breganze DOC, Colli Berici DOC, Vicenza DOC, Montello e Colli Asolani DOC, Piave or Vini del Piave DOC, Lison-Pramaggiore DOC
Characteristics
Color: Straw yellow tending toward gold.
Nose: Fruity (cooler regions: green apple, pear, citrus. Warmer regions: exotic fruits, pineapple, mango, banana), Mineral. Butter aromas can come from the grape and from malolactic fermentation. Oak fermentation and aging add aromas of caramel, vanilla, toasted bread.
Palate: Full bodied. Great balance between fresh acidity and softness
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