Chardonnay as the Most Important White Wine

Chardonnay became a fashionable grape some time ago and is now grown in many countries, including Italy, Australia, New Zealand, the USA, South Africa and Chile. 

The vine is also widespread in Austria, Switzerland and Germany. Around 175,000 hectares worldwide are planted with this noble grape variety, a considerable area.

The grape owes its widespread presence and extensive cultivation not only to its fantastic flavour characteristics; its ease of cultivation also plays a major role. Whether dry white wines, wines with off-dry or medium-sweet profiles, or sweet wine, here is an all-rounder in white: compelling and socially acceptable.

Chablis as a Single-Varietal Brand

Chardonnay is the only grape variety permitted in Chablis, which is made as a single-varietal wine. The name was a veritable bastion, particularly 40 years ago, and was regarded at the time as synonymous with dry white wine. In those days, patents and trademarks in wine were still open to everyone. Shortly before trademark protection was introduced for the name Chablis, Australian and Californian winemakers in particular used it on their bottle labels, marketing their dry white wines—even those made from other grape varieties—under this catchy name.

The Many Names of Chardonnay

Since this grape variety also has a history stretching back centuries, countless winemakers in Italy and around the world have given it their own names. Here is a whole mountain of alternative names for one and the same wine. Have fun memorising them.

Chardonnay is also known as:

Aligote, Arboisier, Arnaison, Arnaison Blanc, Arnoison, Aubain, Aubaine, Auvergnat Blanc, Auvernas, Auvernas Blanc, Auvernat, Auvernat Blanc, Auxeras, Auxerras Blanc, Auxerrois, Auxerrois Blanc, Auxois, Auxois Blanc, Bargeois Blanc, Bearnais, Beaunois, Biela Klevanjika, Blanc Daune, Blanc de Bonne Nature, Blanc de Champagne, Blanc de Cramant, Blanca del Pais, Bon Blanc, Breisgauer, Breisgauer Suessling, Breisgauer Sussling, Burgunder Weisser, Burgundi Feher, Chablis, Chardenai, Chardenay, Chardenet, Chardennet, Chardennet de Chablis, Chardennet de Pouilly, Chardonais, Chardonay, Chardonet, Chardoney, Chardonnay, Chardonnay Bijeli, Chardonnet, Chatenait, Chatey Petit, Chatte, Chaudenay, Chaudenet, Chaudent, Claevner, Clevner, Cravner, d’Arnoison, d’Auvernat Blanc, d’Epintte, Dannerie, Epinette, Epinette Blanc, Epinette Blanche, Epinette de Champagne, Ericey, Ericey Blanc, Feher Chardonnay, Feherburgundi, Feinburgunder, Fin Plant Dore, Gamay Blanc, Gelber Schimber, Gelber Schimper, Gelber Weissburgunder, Gentil Blanc, Greco, Gros Blanc, Grosse Bourgogne, Gruenedel, Klawner, Kleinedel, Kleiner Heinsch, Klevanjka Biela, Klevner, Klingelberger Grosser, Kurzstieliger Champagner, Luisant, Luiza, Luizannais, Luizant, Luzannois, Maconnais, Maurillon Blanc, Melan, Melier, Melon, Melon a Queue Rouge, Melon Blanc, Melon d’Arbois, Melon du Jura, Melon Gros Vert, Melon Queue de Gouri, Meunier Blanc, Moreau Blanc, Moreote Blanche, Morillon Blanc, Moulan, Moulon, Muscadet, Noiren Blanc, Noirien Blanc, Noirien Blanc Chardonnay, Obaideh, Petit Chantey, Petit Chatey, Petit Sainte-Marie, Petite Sainte Marie, Pineau Blanc, Pineau Blanc Chardonnay, Pino Plan Shardone, Pino Sardone, Pino Shardone, Pinot Bianco Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc Chardonnay, Pinot Chardonnay, Plant de Breze, Plant de Tonnerre, Plant Dore, Plant Dore Blanc, Plant Dore de Champagne, Rolaenner, Romere, Romeret, Rouci Bile, Rousseau, Roussette, Roussot, Rulander, Rulander Weiss, Rulenner, Sainte Marie Petite, Sardone, Savignien Blanc, Shardone, Shardonne, Spaeter Weisser Burgunder, Suessling, Trappler, Veis Edler, Veiser Klevner, Vitis Aurelianensis Acinis Albis, Wais Edler, Weiss Arbs, Weiss Clevner, Weiss Cloevner, Weiss Edler, Weiss Klewner, Weiss Silber, Weissarbst, Weissarbst Rolander, Weissedler, Weisseklaevler, Weisser Burgunder, Weisser Claevner, Weisser Clevner, Weisser Klaevner, Weisser Kleinedel, Weisser Rohlaender, Weisser Rolander, Weisser Rulaender, Weisser Rulander, Weissgelber Claevner, Weissgelber Klevner, Weissklaevner, Weissklevner

Powerful, Intense and Full of Flavour!

Like Riesling, Chardonnay comes from a very high-quality grape. The wines it produces are very full-bodied, although their aromas are less distinctive than those of Gewürztraminer or Riesling. Chardonnay, however, skilfully reflects its vineyard site. Its flavour therefore always varies with the region in which it is grown. If Chardonnay is harvested too early, quality suffers considerably. The wine then seems thin and unappealing. Yet the grape must not be harvested too late either, as it will otherwise lose its fresh acidity. The wines naturally have a relatively high alcohol content. As one of the few white wines to do so, this grape also benefits from ageing in oak barrels. Delicate walnut flavours then develop on the palate. Otherwise, Chardonnays often seduce their drinkers with fresh, fruity aromas of peach, citrus or papaya. Depending on the growing region, other nutty notes may also emerge. 

Chardonnay as the Foundation for Excellent Champagnes

Chardonnay is one of the most important foundations of many Grand Cru Champagnes. Without this grape variety, this sparkling pleasure would not exist at all. These fine wines generally contain 50% Chardonnay, while Blanc de Blancs Champagne is made entirely from Chardonnay. It is therefore hardly surprising that Chardonnay accounts for almost half the vineyard area. Since Chardonnay is also particularly fond of the limestone soils that predominate in the region, it naturally thrives especially well here.

California as the Largest Growing Region

Today, California is the largest winegrowing region for the famous full-bodied California Chardonnay. An impressive 44,500 hectares are devoted exclusively to this grape. California's climate reliably allows the grapes to reach full ripeness, and Californian Chardonnays are prized above all for their full-bodied, distinctive character. As the trend in recent years has increasingly shifted towards wines with lower alcohol levels, winemakers here have developed a new technology that can limit the alcohol content. However, since this alcohol reduction is more costly for winemakers, these wines are generally sold at higher prices.

The Wine Story from California and Oregon

The Perfect Companion

With its intense flavour, Chardonnay can accompany a wide variety of dishes. Thanks to its creamy texture, however, it pairs particularly well with dishes prepared with fine butter. 

Chardonnay also skilfully highlights the distinctive flavours of mushroom dishes.

Its delicate acidity can lighten rich sauces, and poultry and truffle dishes also find a gallant companion in this wine!