W3 Wine School

Chardonnay (Chile)

Much like coastal regions of California (Sonoma and Santa Barbara),
cooler climates around Chile allow Chardonnay to shine,
retaining acid and avoiding overripeness.

Chardonnay Flavors

Citrus, Green Apple, Pear, White Peach, and Minerality are typical cold climate flavors.

Lemon
Lemon
Apple
Apple
Pear
Pear
Peach
Peach
Nectarine
Nectarine
Flowers
Flowers
Herbs
Herbs
Salt
Salt

Warm Climate Flavors

Orange, Yellow Apple, Peach, and Tropical Fruit (Pineapple,Banana) are typical warm climate flavors.

Orange
Orange
Yellow Apple
Yellow
Apple
Mango
Mango
Pineapple
Pineapple

Tertiary Flavors from Aging:

Vanilla
Vanilla
Butter
Butter
Croissant
Croissant
Coconut
Coconut

Chardonnay Profile

Oaked Chardonnays tend to be full bodied with high alcohol.

SUGAR:Dry 3g/l
BODY:Full
FRUIT:Medium
ACIDITY:Medium
ALCOHOL:12.5 - 13.5% ABV
Temperature Serving temperature:
10-14°C (50-57°F)

Chardonnay Food Pairing

Chardonnay is very food friendly.

Italian. Spanish. International. Asian. Mexican. Vegetarian.

Antipasti
Antipasti
Vegetables
Vegetables
Asparagus
Asparagus
Pasta
Pasta
Fish
Fish
Chicken
Chicken
Pork
Pork
Risotto
Risotto

Excellent pairings:

Anything with Creamy or Buttery Sauce.
Pasta in Creamy Sauce. Risotto.
Lobster. Salmon. Tuna. Fish Cakes.
Chicken. Poultry. Pork.
Roasted Veggies. Pumpkin. Mushroom. Onion. Garlic.
Hazelnuts. Cashew. Pecans. Coconut.

Cheeses

Aged, Salty, or Nutty Cheeses.
Cheddar. Comté. Gruyère. Manchego. Parmigiano. Pecorino.

The Ideal Glass for Chardonnay

The Chardonnay Glass was designed for enjoying full-bodied white wines. They have a wider bowl and a tapered top to enhance the buttery and oaky notes found in aged wines.

The wide bowl steers the wine to the sensitive parts of the tongue, ensuring that the acidity creates a harmonious balance with the sweet aromas of the wine.

The wide bowl allows the full bouquet of aromas to develop. It also reduces the risk for over-concentrated aromas.

Chardonnay Cheese Pairing

Brie or Camembert

These creamy, rich cheeses complement the full, round mouthfeel of a full-bodied Chardonnay. The buttery flavors in both the wine and the cheese enhance each other beautifully.

Gruyère and Comté

The nutty, slightly sweet flavors of these cheeses pair well with the complex fruit and oak characteristics of a full-bodied white wine. The firm cheese texture adds a pleasant contrast to the richness of the wine.

Munster And Époisses

A rich and pungent washed-rind cheese provides a bold contrast to the refinement of a full-bodied Chardonnay.

Aged Gouda

Aged Gouda, with its caramel and butterscotch notes, matches the depth and complexity of a full-bodied Chardonnay. The wine’s acidity helps balance the cheese’s rich flavors.

Havarti

The creamy and mild flavor of Havarti pairs well with the rich and buttery texture of a full-bodied Chardonnay, making for a delightful and balanced pairing.

Aged Cheeses

The crystalline texture and savory, nutty flavor of aged chesses will complement the undertones of a full-bodied Chardonnay.

If You Like Chardonnay

You May Also Like:

Cassis (France)
Catarratto (Italy)
Chardonnay (France)
Condrieu (France)
Garnacha Blanca (Spain)
Grenache Blanche (France)
Marsanne (France)
Pinot Blanc (France)
Rioja White Oaked (Spain)
Rosazzo (Italy)
Roussanne (France)
Sémillon (France)
Trajadura (Portugal)
Treixadura (Spain)
Viognier (France)

If You Like Chardonnay

You May Also Like:

Bourgogne Blanc (France)
Cassis (France)
Catarratto (Italy)
Chardonnay (France)
Château-Grillet (France)
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc (France)
Condrieu (France)
Garnacha Blanca (Spain)
Grenache Blanc (France)
Marsanne (France)
Meursault (France)
Montrachet (France)
Pinot Blanc (France)
Pouilly-Fuissé (France)
Rioja Blanco Riserva (Spain)
Rosazzo (Italy)
Roussanne (France)
Sémillon (France)
Sémillon (Australia)
Trajadura (Portugal)
Treixadura (Spain)
Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Riserva (Italy)
Verdicchio di Matelica Riserva (Italy)
Viognier (France)

The Ideal Glass for Chardonnay

The Chardonnay Glass was designed for enjoying full-bodied white wines. They have a wider bowl and a tapered top to enhance the buttery and oaky notes found in aged wines.

The wide bowl steers the wine to the sensitive parts of the tongue, ensuring that the acidity creates a harmonious balance with the sweet aromas of the wine.

The wide bowl allows the full bouquet of aromas to develop. It also reduces the risk for over-concentrated aromas.


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