G-Talk: Everything You Need To Know About Chardonnay

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Everything You Need To Know About Chardonnay

Everything You Need To Know About Chardonnay

Everything You Need To Know About Chardonnay

By Anita Hale

When we talk about wine we immediately think of Chardonnay. This is probably the most famous wine in the world. Technically, chardonnay is the grape used to grow this famously dry white wine. The grape’s origins lie in the Burgundy region of France. If you want to get rally specific then it is the Chablis area that most of the top-notch Chardonnay is grown. Chablis wine is highly favoured for its freshness and pure aroma. It is a far cry for some of the fruitier chardonnays that are grown elsewhere. The Chardonnay that is produced in Chablis is believed to acquire its distinctive taste from the limestone soil.

This flavour gradually changes the further south the grape is found. For instance, the Cte Chalonnaise is renowned for producing the wines “Montagny” and “Mercurey.” These wines differ in taste because they have a nutty softness to them. This gentle creaminess is said to be a result of old oak that is used in their production.

It is not just Burgundy where you will find the chardonnay grape. This is because it is one of a trio of white grapes that are permitted to be used in the making of champagne. Real champagne must be bottled and blended in the region of the same name. Chardonnay allowed to be blended with Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir to make champagne. However, champagne can also be produced using solely the chardonnay grape. You will find it growing on the chalky hills of the champagne region. These hills are called the Cte des Blancs. The champagne that chardonnay is used to make is labelled Blanc de Blancs.

Chardonnay differs considerably the further south you travel. While it is renowned for its steely and dry flavour, this is not always the case. In fact, the chardonnay that is grown further south often has a more buttery and rounded quality to it. In addition it can also taste oak-like. Sometimes chardonnay will be blended with other grape varieties like Viognier. This makes the wine taste more rich and fruity.

You can find chardonnay grapes growing outside of France. In actual fact, chardonnay grows wherever wine is being produced. For instance, chardonnay is grown in England to help with the production of their sparkling wine. You will also come across it in the Somontano, Spain. Italy is a slightly different story. While chardonnay is cultivated in the Piedmont region it is not used as much as their local grapes. Italian white wine tends to favour grapes such as Glera and Fiano.

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