Chardonnay
Chardonnay is the most common white grape variety in the world, grown in virtually all major wine-producing countries on six continents. Its origins are linked to Burgundy (France), where it has been cultivated for centuries and is still used to produce some of the most sought-after and expensive white wines on the planet. Genetic research has shown that this variety is the result of a natural cross between Pinot Noir and the ancient Gouais Blanc variety, which probably occurred in eastern France in the Middle Ages.
Chardonnay has become so popular around the world because of its remarkable adaptability. This grape variety is relatively easy to grow, ripens reliably in a wide range of climatic conditions and has a largely neutral flavour, making it very sensitive to both terroir and winemaking technology. In cool climates, such as Chablis and Champagne, it produces austere, dense wines with high tension and minerality. In warmer regions, such as California's Napa Valley or Australia's Margaret River, it produces more rich and generous wines. It is also a key component of sparkling wines made using the traditional method, including Champagne.
Oak ageing and malolactic fermentation, the conversion of sharp malic acid to softer lactic acid, are tools that winemakers often use to shape the character of Chardonnay, creating a wide range of styles from austere and unoaked to creamy and full-bodied.
Taste
The flavour profile of Chardonnay varies greatly depending on the climate and winemaking approach. In cooler climates, you can expect notes of green apple, lemon, chalk and steely minerality. Wines from warmer climates tend to have notes of ripe peach, mango, melon and fig. When aged in oak, the wine acquires notes of vanilla, butter, toasted brioche and hazelnut, while malolactic fermentation adds a characteristic creamy, almost silky texture to the palate. Despite the many variations, a great Chardonnay is always characterised by a sense of balance, a harmony of fruit, acidity and texture, and the best examples from Burgundy or other regions age gracefully for a decade or more.
Where does the Chardonnay grape variety come from?
Although Chardonnay is one of the most well-known and versatile white wine grape varieties in the world, the origin of the grape is still not entirely clear. Its origins are thought to lie in the French Burgundy region. However, it was not until the 17th century that it was first documented here, which is quite late. However, its name suggests that it actually comes from Burgundy. This is because it is derived from the small French municipality of Chardonnay, which is located near Mâcon. The grape variety originated from a natural cross between Pinot Noir and Gouais Blanc (Heunisch), which makes it a member of the Burgundy family.
Chardonnay worldwide
In the Middle Ages, monasteries played a crucial role in its spread throughout Europe. The monks recognised the potential of Chardonnay early on – and that very high-quality wines can be made from this grape. In the 19th century, Chardonnay spread throughout the world. On the one hand, through colonisation, and on the other, through missionaries and, lastly, emigrants brought it with them from their homeland. Today, Chardonnay is cultivated in almost all wine-producing nations.
Particularly in the late 20th century, Chardonnay experienced a boom. The grape variety became a ‘fashionable variety’. In the 1970s, full-bodied Chardonnays aged in barriques, as produced in the USA, were particularly trendy. But this trend also had a dark side. By the end of the 1980s, the so-called ABC movement was sweeping across restaurants and wine shops around the world: ‘Anything but Chardonnay’. People had simply grown tired of the opulent, creamy style with its distinct woody notes. From the 1990s onwards, the style changed accordingly to leaner and fresher varieties. This is precisely what made the Chardonnay grape very popular again around the globe: with around 210,000 hectares under cultivation, Chardonnay is now one of the five most widely grown grape varieties in the world.
What does Chardonnay taste like?
Chardonnay is known for its diverse flavours, which depend heavily on the growing region, climate and vinification method. Chardonnay can be very fruity. In this case, either tropical fruits such as mango, passion fruit and pineapple or green apple, citrus fruits and peach predominate. Such Chardonnays are traditionally aged in stainless steel tanks to emphasise the fruitiness. If the Chardonnay comes from a particularly cool region with very calcareous soil, then you will also find many mineral notes. Buttery notes can also be found if the Chardonnay has been aged in wood, preferably in barriques. Other secondary aromas resulting from the wood ageing process can also include smoke or biscuit notes. Nutty notes and honey hints are among the ageing aromas of Chardonnay.
Great Chardonnay wines can be perfectly stored and aged in the cellar for many years. 15 years or more are usually not a problem for such wines. However, these wines are usually also very alcoholic (14 percent alcohol by volume and more). Fresh and light Chardonnays should be enjoyed at a temperature between 7 and 10 °C, while full-bodied or aged wines benefit from temperatures between 10 and 13 °C.
What are the ideal growing conditions for Chardonnay?
Chardonnay is one of the world's wonderfully uncomplicated grape varieties. The grapes do well in both cool and temperate and warm climates. However, the wines taste completely different in each case. A Chardonnay from a cool climate tends to be more acidic and often has mineral notes. If the wine is very well balanced and has fruity and floral notes, then it usually comes from a temperate climate. A full-bodied Chardonnay with opulent tropical fruit notes, however, comes from a warm climate.
Chardonnay prefers calcareous soils, such as those found in the French wine regions of Burgundy or Champagne. These soils promote the elegance and minerality of the wine. By contrast, damp soils or soils low in limestone are unsuitable.
Which wine-growing regions are known for Chardonnay?
Chardonnay is grown worldwide, but some regions are particularly famous for their outstanding wines. First and foremost is Burgundy. A wide range of different Chardonnay varieties are produced here. For example, while a Chablis is very mineral-driven and often high in acidity, a Meursault impresses with its deep complexity and body. The same applies to a Montrachet. Another French Chardonnay paradise is, of course, the Champagne region, where the grape is one of the three main varieties, along with Pinot Noir and Meunier.
But excellent Chardonnay wines are also produced overseas. California is a prime example. In Napa Valley in particular, you can find many impressively full-bodied and buttery Chardonnays. In Australia's Yarra Valley, on the other hand, fruity and complex varieties are produced. And in South Africa, Chardonnay wines are not only elegant, but also delight with many tropical notes.
Which Chardonnay wines are famous?
Which food goes well with Chardonnay?
When it comes to pairing food and wine, Chardonnay is a real all-rounder. For example, a light and fresh Chardonnay aged in stainless steel is perfect with seafood, oysters, prawns or even sushi. A full-bodied wine, on the other hand, goes well with creamy dishes such as risotto or pasta Alfredo, as well as with chicken dishes in a cream sauce. Aged varieties, meanwhile, are the perfect accompaniment to aged cheeses or grilled fish.
Three fun facts about Chardonnay
- California Chardonnay became famous almost overnight in 1976. That was the year a Chardonnay from the Californian winery Chateau Montelena won the legendary Judgment of Paris, leaving its competitors from Burgundy far behind.
- In Austria's southernmost province of Styria, the grape variety is called Morillon and not Chardonnay. After the phylloxera disaster, the winegrowers of southern Styria obtained their new vines from the Burgundy village of Morion – and therefore called the grape the Morion vine. Within a few decades, this had become Morillon.
- When a Champagne is made exclusively from Chardonnay, it is called a Blanc de Blancs. These Champagnes are particularly elegant and lively, but at the same time have a complex depth and are very suitable for laying down.
