A Toast to Chardonnay: The World’s Most Popular Wine

This white wine is served just about everywhere. In fact, some places will automatically pour you a glass of Chardonnay if you request "a glass of white wine." But how much do you really know about Chardonnay? 

Test Your knowledge of this popular white wine!

Let's start with this little quiz. Which one of these statements about Chardonnay is true?

Chardonnay can be:

a.) Crisp & clean with tropical fruit undertones

b.) Rich with vanilla notes

c.) Light and delicate with hints of apricot and peaches

d.) Full-bodied with notes of caramel

e.) All of the above

If you answered e.) you're right!

Chardonnay is deliciously diverse, and winegrowers worldwide love it for that reason. California has more plantings of Chardonnay than any other type of grape, with acreage running neck and neck with the red Cabernet sauvignon.

What is Chardonnay, Anyway?

A favorite white, loved by all!

Chardonnay is not the name of a region, but it's a type of green-skinned grape that originated in France. However, this versatile grape can thrive in many different kinds of climates. And that right there is the beauty of Chardonnay. It's like a blank slate that takes on the region's quality in which it's cultivated – or the terroir. (pronounced tare WAHr) In other words, a region's soil, climate, and elevation all have a significant effect on the taste of the wine. Cooler temperatures result in more citrus notes, whereas warmer temperatures and later harvests produce richer, less acidic wines with more primary grape flavor.

Oak or No Oak? 

Endlessly debated, wine lovers seem to have as many opinions on this as there are varieties. Wines fermented and stored in stainless steel containers retain their bright, clean flavor, and those fermented in oak will produce richer, fuller-bodied wines with secondary hints of spice and vanilla. Winemakers often use stainless steel to ferment the grapes and then let them age in oak containers, while others use half new oak and half old oak. Here again, the origin, shape, and type of wood will affect the flavor of the wine.

Oh so buttery!

Do You Take Butter in Your Wine?

What does it mean when a Chardonnay is described as being "buttery"? Simply put, during an additional fermentation process, an acid in the grape gets converted into a different kind of acid, making the bright apple-like flavors fade, and the more buttery flavors emerge. The final product obtains a rounder, creamier feel, and taste. Think green apples converting into a smooth cream.

Pair this White with Food

This wine is so versatile and has a wide range of flavors and mouthfeel that it does well with many foods. Try pairing your crisp, clean, unoaked Chardonnays with soft cheeses and different kinds of shellfish, including crab cakes. The bolder cheeses pair well with a fuller-bodied, buttery bottle. Fish on the oily side, like salmon, pair beautifully with a full-bodied, oaky wine, as does a creamy Caesar salad and grilled chicken.

When looking for a Chardonnay, you can ask about the region, the fermentation process, whether it's oaked or not – things you now know to look for. There's so much more to discover about this beloved wine. Let the adventure begin! 

Boston Winery has a beautiful Chardonnay with just a touch of oak, finished in stainless steel. Try our 2016 Black Dog Chardonnay today.