Wednesday, September 25, 2013

All About Chardonnay

By Anita Hale


When we talk about wine we immediately think of Chardonnay. This is probably the most famous wine in the world. Technically, chardonnay is the grape used to grow this famously dry white wine. The grape's origins lie in the Burgundy region of France. If you want to get rally specific then it is the Chablis area that most of the top-notch Chardonnay is grown. Chablis wine is highly favoured for its freshness and pure aroma. It is a far cry for some of the fruitier chardonnays that are grown elsewhere. The Chardonnay that is produced in Chablis is believed to acquire its distinctive taste from the limestone soil.

If you travel south from Chablis you will find that the chardonnay wine tastes very different. Chardonnay from the likes of Montagny and AC of Rully are far creamier. They also have a nuttiness to them, which is attributed to the oak used in their production.

Chardonnay also grows outside of the region of Burgundy. It is interesting to note that Chardonnay is permitted to be used in the making of champagne. It can be blended with two other white grapes to make a legitimate champagne from the famous region. These two grapes are Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. No other white grapes are allowed to be used in the production of real champagne. Chardonnay can also be used on its own to make champagne. Here, it grows on chalky hills dubbed the Cte des Blancs. This type of champagne is commonly referred to as Blanc de Blancs.

Chardonnay differs considerably the further south you travel. While it is renowned for its steely and dry flavour, this is not always the case. In fact, the chardonnay that is grown further south often has a more buttery and rounded quality to it. In addition it can also taste oak-like. Sometimes chardonnay will be blended with other grape varieties like Viognier. This makes the wine taste more rich and fruity.

Chardonnay may originate in Burugndy, but it can actually be found growing all over the world. It is grown in both Sussex and Surrey in England because it is used in their sparkling wine. You can also find it in the Somontano in Spain. Even Italy has cultivated the chardonnay grape. It can be found in the north, growing in the Piedmont region. However, Italian white wines will more commonly use their own grapes. These include Fiano, Verdicchio and Glera.




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