For the Love of Chardonnay
Chardonnay—a grape that wears many guises, yet often meets resistance with the infamous "Oh no, anything but Chardonnay" or the "ABC" club. However, we recently hosted a delightful evening to explore the true beauty and versatility of this exceptional grape.
Up until the 1970s, Chardonnay had not ventured far beyond its home in France. It originates from the village of Chardonnay, nestled in the Mâcon region of Burgundy. Over time, it made its way to Champagne, where it joined its parent, Pinot Noir, in creating the world’s most famous sparkling wine. Chardonnay’s other, lesser-known parent is the ancient white grape, Gouais Blanc.
Our tasting event was designed to showcase how climate, soil structure, and winemaking techniques influence Chardonnay’s final expression. From crisp and mineral-driven to rich and buttery, the diversity of this grape never fails to amaze.
The Tasting Journey
1. Salasar Crémant de Limoux, France
We began with the elegant Salasar Crémant de Limoux, a sparkling wine from the foothills of the Pyrenees in Southern France. Made in the traditional Champagne method, this Crémant highlights Chardonnay’s ability to withstand extended lees aging and secondary fermentation, resulting in fine bubbles and delicate flavors.
2. L’Onciale Chablis, Burgundy, France
Next, we traveled to the limestone soils of Chablis, tasting Chablis L'Onciale. This wine was clean, dry, and crisp, offering crunchy green apple flavors with distinct notes of grilled nuts and citrus acidity—a true expression of cool-climate Chardonnay.
3. Auvigue Mâcon-Solutré-Pouilly, Burgundy, France
Heading south, we tasted Auvigue Mâcon-Solutré-Pouilly, where the combination of limestone and clay soils brings richness. This wine undergoes bâtonnage—stirring of the lees—to add texture and body. The result? Plump cooked apple flavors with a creamy mouthfeel, a favorite of the evening.
4. Fondo Indizeno Friuli Colli Oriental Chardonnay
From Burgundy, we moved to the cool, high-altitude vineyards of Friuli in northeast Italy, where winemaker Christian Patat crafts Chardonnay with precision. Stainless steel fermentation preserves the purity of the fruit, complemented by lees aging for depth. The result was an elegant wine with exotic fruit flavors, saline minerality, and balanced acidity.
Chardonnay & Oak – A Perfect Marriage
We then explored Chardonnay’s relationship with oak, where winemakers skillfully balance richness, complexity, and acidity.
5. Pedestal Chardonnay Margaret River, Western Australia
Margaret River benefits from the cooling influence of the Indian Ocean, and Larry Cherubino’s Chardonnay reflects this beautifully. Handpicked grapes ferment with wild yeasts before spending a year in new and one-year-old oak barrels. The wine showcases sweet citrus, peach, vanilla, spice, and toasty notes, all wrapped in a creamy texture with a clean finish.
6. Irene Morales Grand Reserva Chile
Chile provides near-perfect conditions for grape growing—sunshine, the cooling Humboldt Current, and fresh snowmelt for irrigation. Irene Morales Grand Reserva Chardonnay is handpicked from deep clay-loam soils and crafted using bâtonnage techniques. The result? A rich, buttery mouthfeel, warm tropical fruit, vanilla, and spice from six months of oak aging.
7. Constitution Road Chardonnay South Africa
We concluded with Constitution Road Chardonnay from Robertson Winery in South Africa. Here, deep Karoo soils with generous lime content give the wine its intensity. Only the finest first-press juice is used, fermented, and aged in barrel for eighteen months. This stunning wine offers citrus, buttered toast, marmalade, and vanilla, with remarkable length and elegance.
Experience These Wines for Yourself
All these incredible Chardonnays are available at The Wine Shop and online. Click the links within this blog to purchase your favorites and discover the many faces of this extraordinary grape.
Cheers to Chardonnay—versatile, complex, and undeniably delicious!