Chardonnay (USA)
Chardonnays from USA tend to be more fruity, more buttery, and more oaked than French Chardonnays.
Chardonnay Flavors
Citrus, Green Apple, Pear, White Peach, and Minerality are typical cold climate flavors.
 Lemon |
 Apple |
 Pear |
 Peach |
 Nectarine |
 Flowers |
 Herbs |
 Salt |
Warm Climate Flavors
Orange, Yellow Apple, Peach, and Tropical Fruit (Pineapple,Banana) are typical warm climate flavors.
 Orange |
 Yellow Apple |
 Mango |
 Pineapple |
Tertiary Flavors from Aging:
 Vanilla |
 Butter |
 Croissant |
 Coconut |
Chardonnay Profile
Oaked Chardonnays tend to be full bodied with high alcohol.
| SUGAR: | Dry (3 g/l) |
| BODY: | Full |
| FRUIT: | Medium |
| ACIDITY: | Medium |
| ALCOHOL: | 12.5 - 13.5% ABV |
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Serving temperature: 10-14°C (50-57°F) |
Chardonnay Food Pairing
Chardonnay is very food friendly.
Italian. Spanish. International. Asian. Mexican. Vegetarian.
 Antipasti |
 Vegetables |
 Asparagus |
 Pasta |
 Fish |
 Chicken |
 Pork |
 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
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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
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The Chardonnay Grape
Chardonnay, the world's most popular white wine grape, was born in the Burgundy region of France.
It thrives in a range of climates, from cool to warm, each imparting distinct characteristics to the wine.
In cooler regions, Chardonnay exhibits flavors of green apple, pear, and citrus, accompanied by high acidity and a crisp finish.
Warmer climates bring out richer, more tropical fruit notes like pineapple, mango, and peach, often with a fuller body.
Chardonnay's profile can be further influenced by winemaking techniques.
Oak aging introduces flavors of vanilla, butter, and toast, adding complexity and a creamy texture.
Stainless steel fermentation preserves its bright, fruit-forward nature.
Chardonnay in USA
USA is the largest wine market in the world, and Chardonnay is the number one selling wine. The best Chardonnays comes from Northern California.
High Quality areas / regions:
Sonoma Coast (Cooled by Pasific Ocean breezes)
Napa Valley (Warmer and more tropical)
Russian River (Cooled by sea breezes)
Los Corneos (Cooled by San Pablo Bay morning fog)
Santa Barbara County (Cooled by sea breezes)
California
California is a southerly, hot growing region with plenty of sunshine and little rain. Soils are warm and fertile, derfor is ripening accelerated: it`s not uncommon to harvest grapes in August. It`s even blessed with weather predictability!
Russian River Valley, Sonoma and Mendocino Counties (apples, pears, peaches)
Carneros, Sonoma and Napa Counties (flinty)
Monterey County (citric, lemony)
Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara County (pineapple, tropical)
Edna Valley, San Luis Obispo County (apricot, fleshy).
Washington State
Chardonnay is the most widely plantet white grape in Washington, and the state produces stunningly good Chardonnays with fruit flavours ranging from apples, pears, peaches and apricots to full-blown tropical.
The climate is colder than in California and results in bright fruit and tropical flavors both in stainless-steel and oak-aged styles.
The winemakers in Washington often use french oak barrels, and the result are often very elegant and "french".
Oregon
In Oregon big winemakers from California and Burgundy (France) have invested in new Chardonnay vineyards.
New York State
New York State has a similar climate to Rhine region in Germany: the area remains cool due to proximity of 11 deep glacial lakes.
This results in a Chardonnay with brisk acidity and clean aromas of apple, pear, white stone fruit and melon.
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