Chardonnay
/SHAR-doh-nay/Chardonnay is the world's most planted white grape and a remarkable blank canvas for terroir and winemaking. From steely, mineral Chablis to rich, oaked white Burgundy, and from buttery California styles to crisp Australian and New Zealand examples, it takes on endless personalities. It adapts to oak and malolactic fermentation, making it both the most versatile and most polarising of white grapes.
Grape profile
Character & style
| Trait | Character |
|---|---|
| Body | full |
| Acidity | medium |
| Tannins | none |
| Sweetness | dry |
| Alcohol tendency | medium |
| Origin | Burgundy, France |
| Common flavours | apple, lemon, pear, vanilla, butter, cream, oak |
| Aromas | apple, citrus, pear, vanilla, butter, oak, tropical fruit |
Pairing
Best food pairings
- Butter chicken
- grilled fish
- roast chicken
- lobster
- soft cheeses
- risotto
Where it thrives
Key regions for Chardonnay
France, United States, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, South Africa
Burgundy
Burgundy is the spiritual home of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, where a precise hierarchy of Grand Cru, Premier C…
Sonoma
Sonoma is a diverse county of some eighteen AVAs, from the fog-cooled Pinot Noir and Chardonnay of the Russian…
Napa Valley
Napa Valley is America's most famous wine region and the global standard for New World Cabernet Sauvignon, a v…
Yarra Valley
The Yarra Valley, Victoria's first wine region, makes elegant cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, refined …
Adelaide Hills
The Adelaide Hills' cool elevation produces aromatic Sauvignon Blanc, elegant Chardonnay, fine Pinot Noir and …