Free corkscrew on first orders over with the code CORKSCREW

  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Croatia
  • Cyprus
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • HongKong
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Latvia
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxemburg
  • Malta
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Romania
  • Singapore
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • South Korea
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Taiwan
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
Decántalo
Contact

Chardonnay wines

Made with the Chardonnay grape variety

From the French Burgundy, chardonnay has become the most precious white grapes in the world. It has adapted very well in various Spanish regions. Its wines are characterized by a slight aroma due to its high dry extract, glycerin and low levels of oxidation. The berry is small, round and takes on a honey tone when ripe. The result of their wine grape produces a smooth, aromatic, called fruity, characteristic of what is included in the production of sparkling wine (champagne, cava).

This variety, originally from Burgundy in France, is considered the queen of white grapes because it is the best known around the world. This is because it grows and matures easily in virtually all areas that are suitable for growing grapes, and because it creates refined and elegant wines, with or without aging, that always show off the characteristics of the terroir where the grapes come from.

Chardonnay Characteristics

This strain produces small and compact clusters of oval berries with a fine yellowish-green skin. The buds appear early, which can be dangerous if spring frosts occur, however it is very good at withstanding tough winter conditions.

Because the clusters and berries are small, it has great potential for quality that allows for the production of high quality wines and in very diverse styles ranging from dry white to sparkling wines to sweet liqueur wines.

Although it can grow in almost all soils, it usually prefers those that contain clay and limestone, like those found in Burgundy.

Wines that are made with Chardonnay grapes in cold climates are more sought after than those from warmer areas.

Chardonnay wine tasting

In cooler climates, the strain holds onto its acidity while ripening but in warmer areas the variety loses this acidity and produces fruity but less structured wines.

The flavour is subtle, which makes it the most popular white wine grape in the world. Not having such high intensity works perfectly with fermentation and aging in oak barrels.

When it is harvested early it offers little body and some acidity, so it is excellent for the production of sparkling wines such as Champagne.

Wines made with Chardonnay range from a medium acidity, if they are barrel-aged and from regions with temperate climates, to a medium-high acidity if they are not aged and from strains planted in cold climates.

When the clusters are harvested at their optimum ripeness, they produce wines with hints of freshly prepared pastries, butter or hazelnuts.

If they are made without barrel aging, the wines have flavours of pineapple, apple pie, lemon and sometimes pear, peach or passion fruit, depending on the area where the vines are grown.

When Chardonnay wines go through fermentation and/or aging in oak, they acquire body and their varietal aromas are balanced quite well with those of the wood, revealing notes of vanilla, toffee, lemon, smoke, cream, toast, butter or even coconut, clove and cinnamon, depending on the type and origin of the wood used for aging. These wines usually improve after resting in the bottle for an average of three to five years.

You could say that there are two types of Chardonnay wines:

If you prefer creamy and full-bodied white wines, you should choose a classic Chardonnay aged in oak.

If you like mineral, light and dry wines, choose a Chardonnay that has not been aged.

On the other hand, if you like bubbles, you can find sparkling wines like Champagne and Cava that use the variety in some coupages.

When you see that a bottle of Champagne is labelled as a “Blanc de Blancs” it means that you are looking at a sparkling wine from that area made solely with the Chardonnay variety.

On the palate, Chardonnay wines are usually subtle, with no aggressive acidity or particularly strong flavours of their own. They have flavours reminiscent of apples, citrus fruits, melons, pears, honey, wax, caramel and hints of some mineral notes depending on the area where the grapes were grown.

The flavour of Chardonnay wines also varies depending on how ripe the grapes were when harvested. This can range from lemon to green apple when they are less ripe, to flavours reminiscent of pineapple or figs when clusters are harvested when very ripe.

Chardonnay pairings

Wines made with Chardonnay are perfect for enjoying with cheeses, especially cheeses like Brie as well as semi-soft or soft cheeses made with goat or cow's milk.

Wines made with this variety balance flavours of intense spices in some dishes and intensify creamy textures and flavours. They are the perfect wines to enjoy with, for example, a lobster or even Asian dishes, where spices feature heavily.

The aged wines go well with raw seafood, sautéed fish, poultry, pâtés and dishes like sushi or vegetable risotto.

Wines made with Chardonnay that are barrel-aged have more complex pairings ranging from seafood to pork.

They also work well with fish like cod, salmon, halibut or sturgeon and poultry like chicken or turkey. They also go with high-starch vegetables like corn, pumpkin or peas, as well as asparagus, seitan, truffles, mushrooms and almonds.

Chardonnay growing areas

As we have already said, this strain can grow in virtually any winemaking area in the world and there are great examples, of course, in its native Burgundy, but also in the United States: it is the most planted grape in California; in Argentina, Spain, Chile, New Zealand, Australia and the rest of France.

Similar varieties

If you like wines made with Chardonnay grapes then you may also like wines made using the Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier, Sémillon, Fiano (Italy) and Antão Vaz (Portugal) varieties.

Filter and sort

Chardonnay Close Type of grape

  • --- ---

search
search
search
search
Filter and sort

Active filters

Type of grape: Chardonnay

Pegasus Bay Chardonnay 2020

New Zealand Waipara Valley (Canterbury)

Pegasus Bay Chardonnay 2020
Quick view
92

Parker

94

Suckling

€33.70unit
Save €22.50
Price
€37.45
VAT inc.

Yllera Chardonnay 2023

Spain D.O. Rueda (Castilla y León)

The freshness and sophistication of the night harvest
Yllera Chardonnay 2023
Quick view
€6.10unit
Save €4.20
Price
€6.80
VAT inc.

Du Grappin Vezélay Blanc 2022

France AOC Bourgogne (Burgundy)

A chardonnay brimming with character
Du Grappin Vezélay Blanc 2022
Quick view
€41.45
-10%
Price
€37.30
VAT inc.
  • -10.01%
  • New

Du Grappin Mâcon-Villages 2022

France AOC Mâcon-Villages (Burgundy)

A white Burgundy that delights the palate
Du Grappin Mâcon-Villages 2022
Quick view
€24.10unit
Save €16.20
Price
€26.80
VAT inc.
  • New

Chacra Chardonnay 2022

Argentina Patagonia (Patagonia)

Chacra Chardonnay 2022
Quick view
94

Decántalo

€107.80unit
Save €72.00
Price
€119.80
VAT inc.
  • New
Ver más