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Kendall-Jackson “VR” Chardonnay Glass $8.5 Chardonnay is a green-skinned grape variety used to make white wine. It is believed to have originated in the Burgundy wine region of eastern France but is now grown wherever wine is produced, from England to New Zealand. For new and developing wine regions, growing Chardonnay is seen as a "rite of passage" and an easy segue into the international wine market. Chardonnay is an important component of many sparkling wines around the world, including Champagne. The regional influences of Chardonnay can help it pair with different food styles. and tends to pair well with tomato-based dishes and items featuring sweet onions. The Chardonnay grape itself is very neutral, with many of the flavors commonly associated with the grape being derived from such influences as terroir and oak. It is vinified in many different styles, from the elegant, "flinty" wines of Chablis to rich, buttery Meursaults and New World wines with tropical fruit flavors. |
A peak in popularity in the late 1980s gave way to a backlash among those wine drinkers who saw the grape as a leading negative component of the globalization of wine. Nonetheless, it remains one of the most widely-planted grape varieties, with over 400,000 acres (175,000 hectares) worldwide, second only to Airén among white wine grapes and planted in more wine regions than any other grape – including Cabernet Sauvignon. With food Due to the wide range of styles, Chardonnay has the potential to be paired with a diverse spectrum of food types. It is most commonly paired with roast chicken and other white meats such as turkey.
Heavily oak influenced Chardonnays do not pair well with more delicate fish and seafood dish. Instead, those wines tend to go better with smoked fish, spicy southeast Asian cuisine, garlic and guacamole dips.Older, more mellow Chardonnays are often paired with more "earthy" dishes like mushroom soup and aged cheese.
Chardonnay Wine Information The Chardonnay grape is thought to have originated in Lebanon, and in France Chardonnay became the only grape allowed to be grown in Chablis, Burgundy. These white Bungundy wines were well enjoyed, and the grape is also used in sparkling wines and Champagne. Chardonnay really hit its prime when it was grown in California, however. Its popularity has grown immensely in the past fourty years, to where it is now the most popular white wine available. Winemakers love Chardonnay because the vines are easy to grow, and have a high yield.
Wine drinkers love Chardonnay because of the wide variety of flavours it can take on. Depending on where it's grown and how it's fermented, Chardonnay can taste semi-sweet or sour, heady or light. Typical flavors are apple, tangerine, lemon, lime, melon, and oak. Also, Chardonnay is not a "rich man's drink".
A surprisingly good chardonnay can cost under $10. In addition to California and Burgundy, Chardonnays are also grown in quantity in Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Cool-climate Chardonnays get longer growing times, and end up with subtle overtones. Warm-climate Chardonnays, on the other hand, become more flavorful and full tasting.
Chardonnay should be served at 48F. Most chardonnays are meant to be drunk immediately, but some can age for 5-10 years or more.