Chardonnay - About Wines from Wine Love

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About Wines - Chardonnay

Chardonnay

Chardonnay is to white wines as Cabernet is to reds. Chardonnay is customarily a rich, complex wine. This grape is amazingly versatile, growing well in a variety of locations throughout the world. Originally grown in the Burgundy region of France, it is used for their magnificent whites such as Montrachet, Meursault, Pouilly-Fuissè, and true Chablis.

Introduced to California in the 1930s, Chardonnay's popularity began to grow in the mid-70's. Today, California is (arguably) the world leader in fine Chardonnay production. Chardonnay grapes excel in cooler, marine-influenced regions. Anderson Valley, Carneros, Monterey, Russian River, Santa Barbara and Santa Maria Valley, produce extraordinary Chardonnays.

Classic Chardonnay exhibits the bold, ripe, and richly fruit flavors of apple, lemon, melon, pear, peach, pineapple, lemon and grapefruit. They often posses pronounced layers of spice, honey, butter, butterscotch and hazelnut flavors. Using common various techniques, winemakers add depth and richness to the wines. Barrel fermentation, sur lie aging (aged with the dead yeast cells left in the wine), and malolactic fermentation (a process which converts tart malic acid to softer lactic acid) all increase the round, oily mouth-feel and toasty, buttery flavor of the finest Chardonnays. Many wineries make Chardonnay in a fruitier, crisp wine by aging in stainless steel. This style accentuates the natural fruit flavors of the grape, appealing to those looking for a lighter "everyday" drinking wine.

Chardonnay yields significantly more wine per acre than other wines, and commands a high price due to Chardonnay's extensive popularity. As a result, many "old vine" vineyards have been plowed under and replaced by Chardonnay. While this has dramatically incfreased the selection of good wines available at reasonable prices, it has created an unexpected side-effect. Many American and Australian Chardonnays exhibit "classic" characteristics when young, but lose richness, depth and intensity within a year or two. Traditional French Chardonnay can be laid down for many years, developing impressive flavors for the aging process. Many vintners have recognized this and have reacted by reducing crop yields.

Chardonnay's popularity sparked a renaissance in wine interest, and quality Chardonnay is made throughout the world. Current leaders in "new growth" Chardonnay include New Zealand, Australia, and Chile. Chardonnay is one wine where quality level often is closely correlated to the producer and the price.

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