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128-600: The Chardonnay grape itself is neutral, with many of the flavors commonly associated with the wine being derived from such influences as terroir and oak . It is vinified in many different styles, from the lean, crisply mineral wines of Chablis , France, to New World wines with oak and tropical fruit flavors. In cool climates (such as Chablis and the Carneros AVA of California ), Chardonnay wine tends to be medium to light body with noticeable acidity and flavors of green plum, apple, and pear. In warmer locations (such as

256-453: A "grapey" perfume, while 'Dijon-75', '78', '121', '124', '125' and '277' are more vigorous and higher-yielding clones. New World varieties include the ' Mendoza ' clone, which produced some of the early California Chardonnays. The 'Mendoza' clone is prone to develop millerandage , also known as "hens and chicks", where the berries develop unevenly. In places such as Oregon , the use of newer Dijon clones has had some success in those regions of

384-512: A concept of different regions having the potential to produce very different and distinct wines, even from the same grapes. The Ancient Greeks would stamp amphorae with the seal of the region they came from, and different regions established reputations based on the quality of their wines. For centuries, literate and disciplined members of the Benedictine and Cistercian orders cultivated grapes in much of Burgundy . With vast landholdings,

512-443: A connection was assumed between Chardonnay and Pinot noir or Pinot blanc . In addition to being found in the same region of France for centuries, ampelographers noted that the leaves of these plants have near-identical shape and structure. Pierre Galet disagreed with this assessment, believing that Chardonnay was unrelated to any other major grape variety. Viticulturalists Maynard Amerine and Harold Olmo proposed descent from

640-469: A discernibly warmer climate than France. In contrast, South African Chardonnay produced from more sandstone-based vineyards tend to be richer and more weighty. Due to some ampelographical similarities, Pinot blanc and Chardonnay were often mistaken for each other and even today share many of the same synonyms. The grape vines, leaves, and clusters look identical at first glance, but some subtle differences are seen. The most visible of these can be observed as

768-447: A dry White Zinfandel -style Nebbiolo wine that is made from the white juice of the red Nebbiolo grape prior to being dyed with skin contact. Most Chardonnay plantings are located in the northern wine regions, though plantings can be found throughout Italy as far south as Sicily and Apulia . In Piedmont and Tuscany , the grape is being planted in sites that are less favorable to Dolcetto and Sangiovese respectively. In Lombardy ,

896-409: A higher standard with the "lesser" premier cru . These critics also question the difference between New World and Old World wine and whether modern winemaking techniques – like significant oak influences, over-ripened fruit , cultured yeast, micro-oxygenation, and color pigment additives – obscure or even eliminate the influence of terroir in making different regions unique. Critics often point to

1024-549: A long history in Italy but for a large part of it, the grape was commonly confused with Pinot blanc—often with both varieties interplanted in the same vineyard and blended together. This happened despite the fact that Chardonnay grapes get more golden-yellow in color close to harvest time and can be visually distinguished from Pinot blanc. In the Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol region this confusion appeared in

1152-498: A more subtle and muted nose with no overwhelming aromatics that jump out of the wine glass. The identifying styles of Chardonnay are regionally based. For example, pineapple notes are more commonly associated with Chardonnay from Napa Valley while Chablis will have more notes of green apples. While many examples of Chardonnay can benefit from a few years of bottle aging, especially if they have high acidity, most Chardonnays are meant to be consumed in their youth. A notable exception to this

1280-568: A notable example) and Cognac where the chalky soil, climate and distance from the ocean are all factors influencing the product. Producers of single malt whisky , bourbon , rum , and vodka use terroir elements in their production process, including wood flavors derived from barrel aging . The tenet of terroir has also been applied to the production of artisan cheese , and French authorities have fought to balance traditional cheesemakers terroir cheeses concerns with those of major industrialists. The flavor of cheeses (and other dairy products)

1408-457: A particular vineyard or row of grapevines (like the Grand Cru vineyard of La Grande Rue ). The element of soil relates both to the composition and the intrinsic nature of the vineyard soils , such as fertility, drainage and ability to retain heat. Geomorphology refers to natural landscape features like mountains , valleys and bodies of water , which affect how the climate interacts with

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1536-486: A sibling of Chardonnay . It was once quite widely grown near Auxerre . In the early 19th century, Roublot made up a third of the area in Saint-Bris-le-Vineux in the west of Chablis. Then the vines were wiped out in the phylloxera epidemic, and uniquely for Burgundy, were replaced by Sauvignon blanc , the wines of which today are designated Saint-Bris AOC . DNA fingerprinting has shown that Roublot

1664-466: A special logo, in addition to the Appellation d'origine protégée (AOP) . The importance of terroir affects the price of the agricultural product as well as the products made from the product. Branding, variety, and farmer identification affects the price of a product. The Slow Food movement appreciates history of a variety of plant or animal, the story of the farmer who produced it, and ultimately

1792-787: A style of wine noticeably different from that of France. It is the dominant white wine variety of the area, overtaking Riesling in 1990. In the United States , it is found most notably in California, Oregon , Texas , Virginia , and Washington , but also in Alabama , Arizona , Arkansas , Colorado , Connecticut , Georgia , Idaho , Illinois , Indiana , Iowa , Maryland , Massachusetts , Michigan , Minnesota , Missouri , New Hampshire , New Jersey , New Mexico , New York , North Carolina , Ohio , Oklahoma , South Carolina , Tennessee , and Vermont wine . In Canada , Chardonnay

1920-422: A very different wine each year. One Burgundian winemaker that favors the use of only wild yeast is Domaine des Comtes Lafon which had the fermentation of its 1963 Chardonnay batch take five years to complete when the fermentation process normally only takes a matter of weeks. The time of harvesting is a crucial decision because the grape quickly begins to lose acidity as it ripens. For sparkling wine production ,

2048-578: A wide-ranging reputation for relative ease of cultivation and ability to adapt to different conditions. The grape is very "malleable", in that it reflects and takes on the impression of its terroir and winemaker . It is a highly vigorous vine, with extensive leaf cover which can inhibit the energy and nutrient uptake of its grape clusters. Vineyard managers counteract this with aggressive pruning and canopy management. When Chardonnay vines are planted densely, they are forced to compete for resources and funnel energy into their grape clusters. In certain conditions,

2176-720: A wild Vitis vinifera vine that was a step removed from white Muscat . Chardonnay's true origins were further obscured by vineyard owners in Lebanon and Syria , who claimed that the grape's ancestry could be traced to the Middle East, from where it was introduced to Europe by returning Crusaders . Little external evidence supports this theory. Another theory stated that it originated from an ancient indigenous vine found in Cyprus . Modern DNA fingerprinting research at University of California, Davis , now suggests that Chardonnay

2304-462: Is a French term used to describe the environmental factors that affect a crop's phenotype , including unique environment contexts, farming practices and a crop's specific growth habitat. Collectively, these contextual characteristics are said to have a character; terroir also refers to this character. Some artisanal crops and foods for which terroir may apply include wine , cheese , coffee , single malt whisky , onions , and tea . Terroir

2432-411: Is a controversial element since some will advocate that its use is beneficial in bringing out the natural terroir characteristics while others will argue that its use can mask the influences of the terroir. Vineyard management (e.g., growing grapes organically or biodynamically over a more conventional method of farming) can also be seen as a human controlled aspect of terroir. Many decisions during

2560-577: Is a cool-climate viticultural region. Being cold tolerant, the Chardonnay grape is well suited for New York. Not only can it endure its cold winters, but also buds late, reducing the risk of spring frosts. New York's comparatively cooler growing season causes slower ripening, requiring a longer time on the vine, which allows the grapes to develop greater complexity and character at more reasonable sugar levels than warmer Chardonnay-producing regions. New York has subsequently developed significant plantings of

2688-587: Is a plot turning point in the 1976 French comedy L'aile ou la cuisse ( The Wing or the Thigh ) with Louis de Funès . In 2014 Keith Carradine starred in John Charles Jopson 's Edgar Allan Poe -inspired film Terroir . Terroir is frequently referenced in Jeff VanderMeer 's 2014 novel Authority . Roublot Roublot is a traditional French variety of white wine grape that is

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2816-535: Is an important component of many sparkling wines around the world, including Champagne and Franciacorta in Italy . Chardonnay's popularity peaked in the late 1980s, then gave way to a backlash among those wine connoisseurs who saw the grape as a leading negative component of the globalization of wine. Nonetheless, it is one of the most widely planted grape varieties , with 210,000 hectares (520,000 acres) worldwide, second only to Airén among white wine grapes and fifth among all wine grapes. For much of its history,

2944-427: Is characterized by maintaining more acidity, tend to pair well with tomato-based dishes and items featuring sweet onions . Older, more mellow Chardonnays are often paired with more "earthy" dishes like mushroom soup and aged cheese . Chardonnay long had a reputation as one of France's great white wines, but due to the dominance of geographical labeling , the fact that Chardonnay was the grape behind white Burgundy

3072-500: Is far more commonly produced than Blanc de Noirs . This is partly because Pinot noir and Pinot Meunier produce very coarse and heavy wines that lack the finesse and balance that Chardonnay brings to the mix. Non sparkling still wine Chardonnay is produced under the Coteaux Champenois AOC . The wine is much more acidic than that of Chablis and is normally made bone-dry. Despite receiving the same amount of sunshine as

3200-758: Is found in British Columbia , Nova Scotia , Ontario , and Quebec ., and in Mexico is found in Baja California(Valle de Guadalupe) and in Coahuila(Valle de Parras) states. The first successful commercial production of California Chardonnay was from plantings in the Livermore Valley AVA . Wente Vineyards developed a Chardonnay clone that was used to introduce the grape variety in several Californian vineyards throughout

3328-664: Is found in the Languedoc , where it was first planted around the town of Limoux and up to 30% can be blended with Mauzac in the sparkling Blanquette de Limoux . Every year since 1991, Chardonnay production is celebrated in Limoux during the Toques et Clochers festival. By 2000, more than 9,000 hectares (22,000 acres) were planted, with many being used for wines under the Vin de Pays d'Oc . These wines were unique in that they were some of

3456-535: Is found mostly around Bündner Herrschaft , Geneva and Valais . In Spain, Chardonnay has been increasingly used in the sparkling wine Cava . It is also permitted in the denominación de origen (DO) wines of Costers del Segre , Navarra and Somontano . In the wine regions of the former Soviet Union , Chardonnay has lagged behind in white wine grapes plantings in favor Rkatsiteli , Aligote and Riesling. The Portuguese experimentation with Chardonnay has been mostly influenced by flying winemakers from Australia and

3584-607: Is home to many mass-produced Chardonnay brands, as well as box and jug wine production. While the exact style of the wine varies by producer, some of the terroir characteristics associated with California Chardonnay include "flinty" notes with the Russian River Valley and mango and guava from Monterey. A large portion of the Californian sparkling wine industry uses Chardonnay grapes from Carneros, Alexander, and Russian River valleys, with these areas attracting

3712-406: Is impacted by the production location. For instance, Alpine pastures are composed of a larger variety of grasses, herbs, and flowers, than those in the lowlands. At higher elevations, the flora also changes significantly throughout the grazing period (from spring to autumn), thus also impacting the taste of cheeses produced in different batches. In Switzerland, Alp cheese is typically indicated with

3840-520: Is increasing). The biting, green apple-like acidity is a trademark of Chablis and can be noticeable in the bouquet. The acidity can mellow with age and Chablis are some of the longest-living examples of Chardonnay. Some examples of Chablis can have an earthy "wet stone" flavor that can get mustier as it ages before mellowing into delicate honeyed notes. The use of oak is controversial in the Chablis community, with some winemakers dismissing it as counter to

3968-500: Is not identical. Typically, Mâcon blanc, basic Bourgogne, Beaujolais blanc, and Saint-Véran are meant to be consumed within two to three years of release. However, many of the well-made examples of white Burgundy from the Côte d'Or need at least three years in the bottle to develop enough to express the aromas and character of the wine. Hazelnut, licorice , and spice are some of the flavors that can develop as these wines age . Chardonnay

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4096-773: Is one of many grapes to be the result of a cross between Gouais blanc (Heunisch) and Pinot , making it a full sibling of famous varieties such as Chardonnay and Aligoté . Gouais blanc was widely grown by the French peasantry in the Medieval ages. This offered many opportunities for hybridization, and the offspring benefited from hybrid vigor as the parents were genetically quite different. Other Gouais blanc/Pinot crosses include Aubin vert , Auxerrois , Bachet noir , Beaunoir , Franc Noir de la Haute-Saône , Gamay Blanc Gloriod , Gamay , Melon , Knipperlé , Peurion , Romorantin , Roublot, and Sacy . The synonym César blanc may reflect

4224-462: Is one of the few other Vitis vinifera grape vines to share this characteristic. This confusion between Pinot blanc and Chardonnay was very pervasive throughout northern Italy, where the two vines grew interspersed in the vineyard and were blended in winemaking. The Italian government did not dispatch researchers to try to distinguish the two vines until 1978. A similar situation occurred in France, with

4352-456: Is the basis of the French wine appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) system, which is a model for wine appellation and regulation in France and around the world. The AOC system presumes that the land from which the grapes are grown imparts a unique quality that is specific to that growing site (the plants' habitat). The extent of terroir's significance is debated in the wine industry. Over

4480-606: Is the most premium examples of Chablis and white Burgundies. 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. The regional influences of Chardonnay can help it pair with different food styles. Chardonnays from Washington, which

4608-511: Is the only permitted AOC grape variety in the Chablis region, with the wines there developing such worldwide recognition that the name "Chablis" has taken on somewhat generic connotations to mean any dry white wine, even those not made from Chardonnay. The name is protected in the European Union and for wine sold in the EU, "Chablis" refers only to the Chardonnay wine produced in this region of

4736-520: Is the result of a cross between the Pinot noir and Gouais blanc (Heunisch) grape varieties. The Romans are thought to have brought Gouais blanc from Croatia , and it was widely cultivated by peasants in eastern France . The Pinot of the French aristocracy grew in close proximity to the Gouais blanc, giving the two ample opportunity to interbreed. Since the two parents were genetically distant, many of

4864-404: Is the very high alcohol levels which can make a wine seem out of balance. In recent years, California winemakers have been using process such as reverse osmosis and spinning cones to bring the alcohol levels down to 12 to 14%. The California wine regions that seem to favor producing premium quality Chardonnay are the ones that are most influenced, climatically, by coastal fogs that can slow

4992-655: The premier cru vineyards planted at Meursault-Charmes have topsoil almost 2 m (79 in) above limestone and the resulting wines are very rich and rounded. In the nearby Les Perrières vineyard, the topsoil is only around 30 cm (12 in) above the limestone and the wine from that region is much more powerful, minerally , and tight, needing longer in the bottle to develop fully. In other areas, soil type can compensate for lack of ideal climate conditions. In South Africa , for example, regions with stonier, shaley soils and high clay levels tend to produce lower-yielding and more Burgundian-style wine, despite having

5120-544: The Adelaide Hills and Mornington Peninsula in Australia and Gisborne and Marlborough region of New Zealand), the flavors become more citrus, peach, and melon, while in very warm locations, more fig and tropical fruit notes such as banana and mango come out. Wines that have gone through malolactic fermentation tend to have softer acidity and fruit flavors with buttery mouthfeel and hazelnut notes. Chardonnay

5248-580: The Chablis and Burgundy regions. In Champagne , it is most often blended with Pinot noir and Pinot Meunier , but is also used to produce single varietal blanc de blancs styles of sparkling wine . Chardonnay can be found in Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) wines of the Loire Valley and Jura wine region, as well as the vin de pays wines of the Languedoc . Chardonnay is one of

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5376-527: The Cistercians at Pontigny Abbey in the 12th century. Today, the Chardonnay made in the Chablis region is one of the "purest" expression of the varietal character of the grape due to the simplistic style of winemaking favored in this region. Chablis winemakers want to emphasise the terroir of the calcareous soil and cooler climate that help maintain high acidity. The wines rarely go through malolactic fermentation or are exposed to oak (though its use

5504-620: The Cowra region, Chardonnay's citrus notes are emphasized while Hunter Valley examples have more richness and smoky notes. The Adelaide Hills and Yarra Valley produce a more Burgundian style while Mount Barker in the Great Southern wine region of Western Australia produces Chardonnay that more closely resembles those of Chablis. A rare, isolated clone exists in the Mudgee region that locals believe traces its ancestry back to some of

5632-485: The United States there is some confusion over the use of semi-generic names like Champagne and Port but there has been more effort by the American wine industry to recognize the unique association of place names with the wines produced in those places, such as the 2005 Napa Declaration on Place agreement. While appellation systems and the protected designations of origin can be a way of protecting "unique terroir",

5760-568: The United States Federal Trade Commission . In some East Asian countries, terms like terroir or marriage have been popularised by Japanese manga . A 2008–09 Korean drama , most of whose leading characters work with wine, is titled Terroir after the main setting, a wine restaurant in turn named for the concept. The concept of terroir has been discussed in several films and television shows. Jonathan Nossiter 's 2004 documentary, Mondovino , explores

5888-549: The University of Burgundy in Dijon . The so-called "Dijon clones" are bred for their adaptive attributes, with vineyard owners planting the clonal variety best suited to their terroir and which will produce the characteristics that they are seeking in the wine. Examples include the lower- yielding clones 'Dijon-76', '95' and '96' that produce more flavor-concentrated clusters. 'Dijon-77' and '809' produce more aromatic wines with

6016-583: The Willamette Valley with climates similar to that of Burgundy. Chardonnay has served as parent to several French-American hybrid grapes, as well as crossings with other V. vinifera varieties. Examples include the hybrid Chardonel , which was a Chardonnay and Seyval blanc cross produced in 1953 at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station . Mutations of the Chardonnay grape include

6144-663: The Yonne département . The region sits on the outer edges of the Paris Basin . On the other side of the basin is the village of Kimmeridge in England, which gives its name to the Kimmeridgean soil that is located throughout Chablis. The French describe this soil as argilo-calcaire and is a composition of clay , limestone, and fossilized oyster shells . The most expensive examples of Chardonnay from Chablis come from

6272-472: The growing and winemaking process can either lessen or increase the expression of terroir in the wine. These include decisions about pruning , irrigation and selecting time of harvest . At the winery, the use of oak , cultured or ambient yeast, length of maceration and time in contact with lees , temperature during fermentation , and processes like micro-oxygenation , chaptalization , clarification with fining agents , and reverse osmosis all have

6400-438: The "Chablis style" or terroir , while others embrace its use, though not to the length that would characterise a "New World" Chardonnay. The winemakers who use oak tend to favor more neutral oak that does not impart the vanilla characteristic associated with American oak. The amount of " char " in the barrel is often very light, which limits the amount of "toastiness" perceived in the wine. The advocates of oak in Chablis point to

6528-503: The "malleability" of Chardonnay in winemaking and its ability to reflect its terroir , there is not one distinct universal "style" or set of constants that could be applied to Chardonnay made across the globe. According to Jancis Robinson , a sense of "smokiness" is one clue that could be picked up in a blind tasting of Chardonnay but there are many styles that do not have any "smokey" notes. Compared to other white wine grapes like Sauvignon blanc, Gewürztraminer and Viognier-Chardonnay has

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6656-549: The 14 white wines, some of which were notable international wines, including: Chateau Montelena, Mer Soleil, Kumeu River, an aged reserve wine from Rosemount Estates, and a number of Burgundian entrants from producers such as Drouhin, Lamy, Boisset, Maison Louis Jadot , and others. Other great examples of Ontario chardonnay include Closson Chase and Norman Hardie from the Prince Edward County region, and Tawse Winery, Hidden Bench Vineyards, and Southbrook Vineyards from

6784-605: The 1940s. In the 1950s, James David Zellerbach , one-time US Ambassador to Italy in Rome, started Hanzell Vineyards winery and dedicated it to making Burgundian-style Chardonnay. His success encouraged other Californian winemakers to follow suit and culminated in Chateau Montelena 's victory over Burgundy Chardonnay in the 1976 blind tasting event conducted by French judges known as the Judgment of Paris . In response,

6912-479: The 1970s, the focus was on harvesting the grapes at more advanced degrees of ripeness and higher Brix levels. New oak barrels were used to produce wines that were big in body and mouthfeel . Frank J. Prial of The New York Times was an early critic of this style, particularly because of the lack of "food friendliness" that was common with these massive wines. Another criticism of California Chardonnays, and one that has been levied against other Californian wines,

7040-578: The 20th century. In the Côte des Blancs (white slope) district of the Marne, Chardonnay thrives on the chalk soil. The three main villages around the Côte grow Chardonnay that emphasizes certain characteristics that the Champagne producers seek depending on their house style. The village of Avize grows grapes that produce the lightest wines, Cramant makes the most aromatic, and Mesnil produces wines with

7168-963: The Bordeaux region to experiment on a trial basis with four red and two white vine types selected from other areas of France. The new types can make up no more than 10% of the final wine blend. The rest must be from the six red and eight white grape varieties traditionally cultivated in the region during its 2,000 year history. Another approach to protecting plants against the effects of climate change involves experimenting with rootstocks to develop plants that are resilient, vigorous and use water more efficiently under stressful conditions. Differences in planting, irrigation and harvesting practices are also being studied. Practices developed in warmer climates like Australia, Israel, South America, and Spain are being adapted for use in countries that used to be cooler, as temperatures rise. The concept of terroir exists in other drinks, notably in tea ( Wuyi rock-essence tea being

7296-472: The Chablis region, Chardonnay grapes in Champagne rarely attain full ripeness due to the mean temperature of the region being around 10 °C (50 °F), barely above the minimum average temperature needed to ripen grapes. Therefore, the Chardonnay grapes do not fully develop their fruit flavors and the still version of Champagne can taste very "un-Chardonnay"-like because of this. However, it does lessen

7424-580: The Chardonnay plantings from this period turned out to be Auxerrois blanc . A similar event happened in the German wine region of Baden during the 1980s. By the late 1990s, efforts to promote "authentic" Chardonnay helped to increase plantings and by 2004 it was the third-most widely planted white wine grape behind Chenin blanc and Colombard . Winemakers in the Western Cape have experimented blending Chardonnay with Riesling and Sauvignon blanc. Outside of

7552-463: The French AOC systems, have developed around the concepts of "unique wines from a unique area". These systems have also developed into protected designation of origin across the European Union so that, for example, winemakers from outside a region like Tuscany can not produce a Sangiovese wine and call it a Chianti . While the wine may be made from the same clonal variety of Sangiovese, in

7680-572: The Gold Seal wine company. In the late 1950s, they succeeded in harvesting the first commercial quantities of European grapes in eastern North America. Frank went on to found Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars which helped demonstrate that a winery in the eastern US can produce European-style wines as a basis for a winery business. Chardonnay became an important part of that strategy. New York, like Burgundy and Washington,

7808-540: The Loire, up to 20% of Chardonnay can be included in the Chenin blanc -based wines of Anjou blanc and more producers are using the grape to soften some of the edges of Chenin blanc. It can also be used in the sparkling wines of Saumur and some Muscadet producers have begun experimenting with oak-aged Chardonnay. In North America, particularly California , Chardonnay found another region where it could thrive and produce

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7936-590: The Niagara region. The Chardonnay vintages of the early 1990s from British Columbia helped generate international attention to the quality of Canadian wines apart from ice wine varietals. In British Columbia, Chardonnay from the Okanagan are characterized by delicate citrus fruits. They are typically light-bodied, but producers who use barrel fermentation and oak aging can produce fuller-bodied wines. Like many grape varieties, Chardonnay first came to Australia in

8064-553: The Pouilly-Fuissé have long held cult wine status with prices that can rival the grand cru white burgundies. Further south, in the region of Beaujolais , Chardonnay has started to replace Aligoté as the main white wine grape and is even replacing Gamay in some areas around Saint-Véran . With the exception of Pouilly-Fuissé, the wines of the Mâconnais are the closest Burgundy example to "New World" Chardonnay, though it

8192-1809: The US and South Africa. Due to the worldwide recognition of the name of "Chardonnay", many of these synonyms have fallen out of favor as winemakers use the more marketable Chardonnay: Arboisier, Arnaison blanc, Arnoison, Aubain, Aubaine, Auvergnat blanc, Auvernas, Auvernas blanc, Auvernat blanc, Auxeras, Auxerras blanc, Auxerrois blanc, Auxois, Auxois blanc, Bargeois blanc, Beaunois, Biela Klevanjika, Blanc de Champagne, Blanc de Cramant, Breisgauer Suessling, Breisgauer Sussling, Burgundi Feher, Chablis, Chardenai, Chardenay, Chardenet, Chardennet, Chardonay, Chardonnet, Chatenait, Chatey Petit, Chatte, Chaudenay, Chaudenet, Chaudent, Clävner, Clevner Weiss, Cravner, Epinette, Epinette blanc, Epinette blanche, Epinette de Champagne, Ericey blanc, Feher Chardonnay, Feherburgundi, Feinburgunder, Gamay blanc, Gelber Weissburgunder, Gentil blanc, Grosse Bourgogne, Klawner, Klevanjka Biela, Klevner, Lisant, Luisant, Luizannais, Luizant, Luzannois, Maconnais, Maurillon blanc, Melon blanc, Melon D'Arbois, Meroué, Moreau blanc, Morillon blanc, Moulon, Noirien blanc, Obaideh, Petit Chatey, Petit Sainte-Marie, Petite Sainte Marie, Pineau blanc, Pino Sardone, Pino Shardone, Pinot Blanc à Cramant, Pinot Blanc Chardonnay, Pinot Chardonnay, Pinot de Bourgogne, Pinot Giallo, Pinot Planc, Plant de Tonnerre, Romere, Romeret, Rouci Bile, Rousseau, Roussot, Ruländer Weiß, Sainte Marie Petite, Sardone, Shardone, Shardonne, Später Weiß Burgunder, Weiß Burgunder (normally refers to Pinot blanc), Weiß Clevner, Weiß Edler, Weiß Elder, Weiß Klewner, Weiß Silber, Weißedler, Weißer Clevner, Weißer Rulander. Terroir Terroir ( / t ɛ r ˈ w ɑːr / ; French: [tɛʁwaʁ] ; from terre , lit.   ' lands ' )

8320-837: The attention of Champagne producers such as Bollinger , Louis Roederer , Moët et Chandon , and the Taittinger family , which have opened up wineries in last few decades. Chardonnay was one of the first European grape varieties to have been grown commercially east of the Rocky Mountains. After three centuries of failure with V. vinifera , this achievement was realized in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. Frenchman Charles Fournier and Russian Konstantin Frank experimented with Chardonnay and other varietals in hopes of producing sparkling wines based on Old World grapes for

8448-651: The attention of the wine community, resulted from a blind tasting held in Quebec for Cellier magazine. Thirty-three years after the "Judgment of Paris", Cellier organized a blind tasting in Montreal based on the Judgment of Paris. In the "Judgement of Montreal", 10 judges at the Cellier tasting assessed 16 red and 14 white wines, primarily from France and California. The Chardonay from Le Clos Jordanne placed first out of

8576-504: The backlash was that Chardonnay was seen as a symbol of the globalization of wine, in which local grape varieties were grubbed up in favor of the big names demanded by international markets. Oz Clarke described a view of Chardonnay as "the ruthless coloniser and destroyer of the world's vineyards and the world's palates." The criticism was centered on the habits of winemakers to pull out or give up on local varieties in order to plant more Chardonnay which offered potentially more income but lack

8704-438: The centuries, French winemakers developed the concept of terroir by observing the differences in wines from different regions, vineyards, or even different sections of the same vineyard. The French began to crystallize the concept of terroir as a way of describing the unique aspects of a place that influence and shape the wine made from it. Long before the French, the wine-making regions of the ancient world had already developed

8832-735: The collection of James Busby in 1832, but it only really took off in the 1950s. It is most significant in South Australia , New South Wales — especially the Hunter Valley - and Victoria . One of the first commercially successful Chardonnays was produced by Murray Tyrrell in the Hunter Valley in 1971. Tyrell's vineyard was planted with Chardonnay cuttings that he " borrowed " from Penfolds ' experimental plantings by hopping over their barb-wire fence one night and pruning their vines. The export driven Australian wine industry

8960-523: The commercial importance of terroir has been a much debated topic in the wine industry. In Spain in 2018, networks of vintners joined in a grassroots movement to produce wines with added terroir value with intention to enhance the Spanish rural wine culture. As climate change disrupts long-established patterns of temperature and precipitation in wine-growing regions and causes more extreme weather events, there are potential serious impacts on terroir and

9088-486: The common conception of terroir as a myth. While Matthews agrees local characteristics can have an effect on plant growth and the wines made from particular grapes, he points out that the term is imprecisely defined, and also proposes the concept of terroir is accepted primarily based on traditional belief , and is not backed by rigorous data or research. The definition of terroir can be expanded to include elements that are controlled or influenced by humans. This can include

9216-399: The control of humans. Components often described as aspects of terroir include: The interaction of climate and terroir is generally broken down from the macroclimate of a larger area (For example, the Côte de Nuits region of Burgundy ), down to the mesoclimate of a smaller subsection of that region (such as the village of Vosne-Romanée ) and even to the individual microclimate of

9344-558: The cool regions of Geelong , Adelaide Hills, Macedon Ranges and Tasmania . Despite being more famous for its Sauvignon blanc production, Chardonnay was New Zealand's most widely planted grape variety from 1990 till 2002 when Sauvignon blanc finally surpassed it. The east coast of the North Island , in places like Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa , have seen the most success with Chardonnay wine that has noticeable acidity and leanness. As better clonal varieties are discovered and planted,

9472-475: The crosses showed hybrid vigour and were selected for further propagation. These "successful" crosses included Chardonnay and siblings such as Aligoté , Aubin vert , Auxerrois , Bachet noir , Beaunoir , Franc Noir de la-Haute-Saône , Gamay Blanc Gloriod , Gamay noir , Melon , Knipperlé , Peurion , Roublot , Sacy , and Dameron . As of 2006, 34 clonal varieties of Chardonnay could be found in vineyards throughout France; most of these were developed at

9600-422: The decision of which grape variety to plant, though whether or not that grape variety will produce quality wine is an innate element of terroir that may be beyond human influence. Some grape varieties thrive better in certain areas than in others. The winemaking decision of using wild or ambient yeast in fermentation instead of cultured or laboratory produced yeast can be a reflection of terroir. The use of oak

9728-502: The demand for Californian Chardonnay increased and Californian winemakers rushed to increase plantings. In the 1980s, the popularity of Californian Chardonnay increased so much, the number of vines planted in the state eclipsed that of France by 1988. By 2005, nearly 100,000 acres (40,000 ha) accounted for almost 25% of the world's total Chardonnay plantings. The early trend was to imitate the great Burgundy wines, but this soon gave way to more rich buttery and oaked styles. Starting with

9856-646: The dominant grapes in Burgundy, though Pinot noir vines outnumber it by nearly a three-to-one ratio. In addition to Chablis, Chardonnay is found in the Côte d'Or (largely in the Côte de Beaune ), as well as the Côte Chalonnaise and Mâconnais . It is grown in eight grand cru vineyards ; The "Montrachets"- Montrachet , Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet , Bâtard-Montrachet , Chevalier-Montrachet , and Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet , as well as Charlemagne , Corton-Charlemagne , and Le Musigny . In addition to being

9984-712: The examples produced so far are very New World in style. In the cool-climate wine regions of Argentina 's Uco Valley , Chardonnay has started to develop a presence. In the 1990s, Chardonnay became the second most widely planted white grape variety in Argentina-second only Torrontés . India and Uruguay have been steadily increasing their plantings. Chardonnay lends itself to almost any style of wine making from dry still wines, to sparkling wines to sweet late harvest and even botrytized wines (though its susceptibility to other less favorable rot makes these wines rarer). The two winemaking decisions that most widely affect

10112-494: The first examples of Chardonnay to be varietally labeled as "Chardonnay". Other French wine regions with Chardonnay plantings include Alsace , Ardèche , Jura , Savoie , and the Loire Valley . In Jura, it is used to create vin de paille dessert wines . Here, the grape is known as Melon d'Arbois or Gamay blanc and is sometimes blended with Savagnin . It is most widely found in Arbois , Côtes du Jura , and L'Étoile AOCs . In

10240-437: The first vines brought to Australia in the 19th century. While the wine made from this clone is not particularly distinguished, it can still be of very good quality. Overall, there has been a shift in style since the 1980s from deep golden, oily wines with melon and butterscotch flavors to lighter, paler Chardonnays with more structure and notes of white peaches and nectarines . Sparkling wines from Chardonnay are produced in

10368-402: The form of the barrel aging . Depending on the amount of charring that the oak was treated with, this can introduce a "toastiness" and flavors that many wine drinkers mistake as a characteristic of the grape itself. These flavors can include caramel , cream , smoke , spice , coconut , cinnamon , cloves and vanilla . Other winemaking decisions that can have a significant effect include

10496-409: The globalization of the wine business, and features interviews with a number of small producers, mostly French, who talk about terroir. In the 2006 BBC series, Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure , one episode is almost entirely devoted to Oz Clarke teaching James May about terroir. At the end of the episode, May identifies three wines successfully, placing them in the correct order on the basis of

10624-417: The goal is to make good wine rather than terroir-driven wine. The importance of these influences depends on the culture of a particular wine region. In France, particularly Burgundy, there is the belief that the role of a winemaker is to bring out the expression of a wine's terroir. The French word for "winemaker," vigneron , is more aptly translated as "wine-grower" rather than "winemaker". The belief that

10752-547: The grape is often used for spumante and in the Veneto it is often blended with Garganega to give more weight and structure to the wine. Chardonnay is also found in the Valle d'Aosta DOC and Friuli-Venezia Giulia wine region. Due to quarantine restrictions, plant cuttings were often smuggled into South Africa in the 1970s and 1980s and many times were misidentified as to what grape variety it really was. A large portion of

10880-534: The grape rapidly losing acidity as soon as it ripens . Some viticultural hazards include the risk of damage from springtime frost , as Chardonnay is an early-budding vine – usually a week after Pinot noir. To combat the threat of frost, a method developed in Burgundy involves aggressive pruning just prior to budburst. This "shocks" the vine and delays budburst up to two weeks, which is often long enough for warmer weather to arrive. Millerandage and coulure can also pose problems, along with powdery mildew attacking

11008-427: The grape to meet the worldwide demand. As more vineyards responded with massive new plantings of the variety, they found that fashions were changing again. The market was drinking more red wine, and there was a backlash against heavy, oaky, New World Chardonnays in favor of lighter wines such as Pinot grigio . There was a new fashion, "ABC" – Anything But Chardonnay, identified by Frank Prial in 1995. Another reason for

11136-700: The grape to the Oregon climate and soils. In Canada , Chardonnay has seen some success with rich, oaky styles produced in Ontario and lighter styles produced in Quebec and British Columbia . In 2009, Le Clos Jordanne winery, of Jordan Village on the Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, received critical acclaim for its 2005 Claystone Terrace Chardonnay, which won the top spot for Chardonnay in the "Judgement of Montreal" experts’ tasting. This recognition, which caught

11264-413: The grapes are ripening, with Chardonnay grapes taking on a more golden-green color than Pinot blanc grapes. On closer inspection, the grapevine shows slight differences in the texture and length of the hairs on the vine's shoot , and the veins of a Chardonnay leaf are "naked" near the petiolar sinus – the open area where the leaf connects to the stem is delineated by veins at the edge. Cabernet Sauvignon

11392-448: The grapes will be harvested early and slightly unripe to maintain the acid levels. Sparkling Chardonnay-based wines tend to exhibit more floral and steely flavors in their youth. As the wine ages, particularly if it spends significant time on lees, the wines will develop "toasty" notes. Chardonnay grapes usually have little trouble developing sugar content, even in cooler climates, which translates into high potential alcohol levels and limits

11520-429: The homogenizing effect on mass-produced wines made from popular varietals like Chardonnay , which may have their terroir characteristics hidden by invasive and intensive winemaking. A heavily oaked, over-ripe Chardonnay from California can taste very similar to the same style of wine from elsewhere. The marketability of wines from different regions and producers is affected by the importance accorded to terroir, both by

11648-413: The monks could conduct large-scale observation of the influences that various parcels of land had on the wine it produced. Some legends have the monks establishing the boundaries of different terroirs – many of which still exist today as the Grand Cru vineyards of Burgundy. While wine experts disagree about the exact definition, particular consideration is given to the natural elements that are beyond

11776-515: The more basic "Petit Chablis" appellation , are planted on portlandian limestone which produces wines with less finesse. Chalk beds are found throughout the Champagne region, and the Côte-d'Or has many areas composed of limestone and clay. In Burgundy, the amount of limestone to which the Chardonnay vines are exposed also seems to have some effect on the resulting wine. In the Meursault region,

11904-513: The most acidity. The Côte des Blancs is the only district in the Champagne region predominately planted with Chardonnay. In the four other main districts – Aube, Côte de Sézanne , Montagne de Reims , and Vallée de la Marne – Chardonnay lags behind Pinot noir in planting. In the outlying region of Aisne , only Pinot Meunier has a significant presence. Despite being less planted, the Blanc de Blancs style of Champagne (made from only Chardonnay grapes)

12032-567: The most expensive, the Burgundy examples of Chardonnay were long considered the benchmark standard of expressing terroir through Chardonnay. The Montrachets are noted for their high alcohol levels, often above 13%, as well as deep concentration of flavors. The vineyards around Chassagne-Montrachet tend to have a characteristic hazelnut aroma to them, while those of Puligny-Montrachet have more steely flavors. Both grand cru and premier cru examples from Corton-Charlemagne have been known to demonstrate marzipan , while Meursault wines tend to be

12160-570: The most round and buttery examples. South of the Côte d'Or are the Côte Chalonnaise and Mâconnais wine regions. The villages of Mercurey , Montagny-lès-Buxy , and Rully are the largest producers of Chardonnay in the Côte Chalonnaise, with the best-made examples rivaling those of the Côte de Beaune. In the Mâconnais, white wine production is centered on the town of Mâcon and the Pouilly-Fuissé region. The full- bodied wines of

12288-587: The need for chaptalization . On the flip side, low acid levels can be a concern which make the wine taste "flabby" and dull. Winemakers can counteract this by adding tartaric acid in a process known as "acidification". In cooler climates, the extract and acidity of Chardonnay is magnified which has the potential of producing very concentrated wines that can develop through bottle aging. Chardonnay can blend well with other grapes and still maintain some of its unique character. The grapes most often blended with Chardonnay include Chenin blanc, Colombard and Sémillon. Due to

12416-496: The overall quality of New Zealand Chardonnay have increased, particularly from places like Canterbury , Marlborough and Nelson . Some producers in the Gisborne region have recently developed a cult following for their Chardonnay among New Zealand wine drinkers. While many New Zealand winemakers are still developing a characteristic style, the Chardonnay produced so far have emphasized the grape's affinity for oak. Chardonnay has

12544-554: The positive benefits of allowing limited oxygenation with the wine through the permeable oak barrels. This can have the effect of softening the wine and making the generally austere and acidic Chablis more approachable at a younger age. In the Champagne, Chardonnay is one of three major grape varieties planted in the region. It is most commonly found in the Aube and Marne départments which, combined with Chablis, accounted for more than half of all plantings of Chardonnay in France during

12672-450: The potential to either reduce or emphasize some aspect derived from the terroir. Winemakers can work between the extremes of producing wine that is terroir-driven and focused on purely expressing the unique aspects of a region's terroir, or winemaking that is done without any consideration given to terroir. Furthermore, aspects of terroir such as climate and soil type may be considered when deciding such things as which grape variety to plant if

12800-550: The premium on needing to keep yields low that other wine regions battle, since not much flavor is going to develop in the grapes, anyway. Rather, the element in Chardonnay that Champagne wine-makers look for is the finesse and balance of acidity that it brings to the blend. Some flavors that can emerge from, particularly with extended time on its lees , include creamy and nuttiness with some floral notes. Champagne, Chablis, and Burgundy account for more than three-fifths of all Chardonnay plantings in France. The next-largest concentration

12928-554: The quality of terroir they come from. Les Blank and Gina Leibrecht's 2007 documentary, All In This Tea , explores the importance of terroir and organic growing methods for the quality and future sustainability of the Chinese tea market. Terroir is also a frequent topic of discussion in the Japanese wine comic Les Gouttes de Dieu . The films French Kiss and A Good Year also make references to terroir. Terroir recognition

13056-477: The quality of the product. Chefs and bakers develop their own list of qualities they desire for their creations, and terroir affects these. Wine critics question the value of a Pinot noir wine from a Burgundy Grand Cru vineyard relative to a wine produced from the "lesser terroir" of a Premier Cru vineyard, and whether it merits the higher price. These doubts also arise when the quality of winemaking and other human influences are taken into account, which may be of

13184-546: The rare pink-berried 'Chardonnay Rose'; also 'Chardonnay Blanc Musqué', which produces an intensely aromatic wine. Chardonnay Blanc Musqué is mostly found around the Mâconnais village of Clessé and sometimes confused with the 'Dijon-166' clone planted in South Africa , which yields Muscat -like aromas. In the 1930s, Chardonnay was crossed with a Seibel grape to create the hybrid grape Ravat blanc . Chardonnay has

13312-479: The region, and includes the elements of aspect and elevation of the vineyard location. Other organisms growing in, on, and around the vine plots refers to the region specific fauna , flora , and microflora present in the vineyards. The microbial populations in vineyards have been described as being a quantifiable aspect of the overall terroir . Mark A. Matthews, a professor of viticulture and plant physiology at University of California, Davis , has described

13440-551: The regions discussed above, Chardonnay can be found in cooler climate sites in Italy , Greece , Israel and Lebanon as well as Austria , Bulgaria , Croatia , England, Georgia , Germany , Slovakia , Hungary , Macedonia , Moldova , Portugal , Romania , Slovenia , Spain , Serbia , Switzerland and Ukraine . In Austria, the grape varieties known as Feinburgunder in Burgenland & Vienna and Morillon in Styria

13568-488: The result of a Chardonnay wine is whether or not to use malolactic fermentation and the degree of oak influence used for the wine. With malolactic fermentation (or MLF), the harder malic acid gets converted into the softer lactic acid , and diacetyl which creates the " buttery -ness" that is associated with some styles of Chardonnay. The wines that do not go through MLF will have more green (unripe) apple-like flavors. Oak can be introduced during fermentation or after in

13696-426: The ripening of the grape and give it more time to develop its flavors. The regions of Alexander Valley , Los Carneros , Santa Maria Valley , Russian River Valley , and other parts of Sonoma County have shown success in producing wines that reflect more Burgundian styles. Other regions often associated with Chardonnay include Napa Valley , Monterey County , and Santa Barbara County . The California Central Valley

13824-597: The same manner they were making wine from the similarly neutral Sultana grape. Aromatic yeast were added and maceration was extended to get more flavors from skin contact. While the style of Australian Chardonnay is mostly characterized by the mass-produced products of the hot Riverland region , the cooler climates of the Southern Highlands in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania have been creating more crisp, less oaked wines with lime notes. In

13952-512: The same soil composition as found in the Chianti region with winemakers using the Tuscan method of production, there is an assumption that the two wines will be different due to terroir. The names of these European wine regions are protected so that wines from different regions and different terroir are not confused with wines from that those regions – i.e. a Spanish or Australian "chianti". In

14080-493: The seven Grand Cru vineyards that account for around 247 acres (100 ha) on the southwest side of one slope along the Serein River near the towns of Chablis—Blanchots, Bougros, Les Clos, Grenouilles, Preuses, Valmur, and Vaudésir. The wines from these crus most often capture the goût de pierre à fusil or "gunflint" quality that is characteristic of Chablis wine. Chardonnay was believed to be first planted in Chablis by

14208-434: The synonyms for each grape, with Pinot blanc being known as "Weissburgunder" (White Burgundy) and Chardonnay was known as "Gelber Weissburgunder" (Golden White Burgundy). By the late 20th century, more concentrated efforts were put into identifying Chardonnay and making pure varietal versions of the wine. In 1984, it was granted its first Denominazione di origine controllata (DOC) in the province of South Tyrol . By 2000, it

14336-431: The temperature of fermentation and what time, if any, that the wine allowed to spend aging on the lees . Burgundian winemaking tends to favor extended contact on the lees and even "stirring up" the lees within the wine while it is aging in the barrel in a process known as bâtonnage . Colder fermentation temperatures produce more "tropical" fruit flavors like mango and pineapple . The "Old World" style of winemaking favors

14464-671: The terroir is the dominant influence in the wine is the basis behind French wine labels emphasizing the region, vineyard, or AOC more prominently than the varietal of grape, and often more prominently than the producer. The influence of terroir means that wines from a particular region are unique, incapable of being reproduced outside that area, even if the grape variety and winemaking techniques are painstakingly duplicated. Winemakers in Burgundy do not believe that they are producing Pinot noir that happens to be grown in Burgundy, but that they are producing unique Burgundian wines that happen to be made from Pinot noir. Appellation systems, such as

14592-581: The thin skin of the grapes. Because of Chardonnay's early ripening, it can thrive in wine regions with short growing seasons, and in regions such as Burgundy, can be harvested before autumn rain sets in and brings the threat of rot. While Chardonnay can adapt to almost all vineyard soils , the three it seems to like most are chalk , clay , and limestone , all very prevalent throughout Chardonnay's traditional "homeland". The Grand crus of Chablis are planted on hillsides composed of Kimmeridgian marl , limestone, and chalk. The outlying regions, falling under

14720-399: The two vines being commonly confused until the mid-19th century, when ampelographers began combing through the vineyards of Chablis and Burgundy, identifying the true Chardonnay and weeding out the Pinot blanc. In France, Chardonnay is the second-most widely planted white grape variety just behind Ugni blanc and ahead of Sémillon and Sauvignon blanc . The grape first rose to prominence in

14848-501: The uniqueness and character of local varieties. Examples of this occurred in south Italy and Spain when ancient Negroamaro , Primitivo , Grenache and Mataro vineyards were ripped up in favor of new Chardonnay plantings. Chardonnay became very fashionable in the 1990s, as the stereotypical drink of young urban women of the Bridget Jones generation. By 2002, the association of Chardonnay with suburban, unsophisticated tastes

14976-502: The use of wild, or ambient yeast , though some will also use specially cultivated yeast that can impart aromatic qualities to the wine. A particular style of yeast used in Champagne is the Prise de Mousse that is cultivated for use worldwide in sparkling Chardonnay wines. A potential drawback of using wild yeast is that the fermentation process can go very slowly with the results of the yeasts being very unpredictable and producing potentially

15104-491: The variety since Fournier and Frank's early experiments. Washington Chardonnays can be very similar to Californian Chardonnays, but tend to have more emphasis on fruit than creaminess. In 2000, it was the most widely planted premium wine grape in the state. Rather than using Dijon clones, Washington vineyards are planted with clones developed at the University of California-Davis that are designed to take longer to ripen in

15232-428: The vines can be very high-yielding, but the wine produced from such vines suffers a drop in quality if yields go much beyond 80 hl /ha (4.5 tons per acre). Producers of premium Chardonnay limit yields to less than half this amount. Sparkling wine producers tend not to focus as much on limiting yields, since concentrated flavors are not as important as the wine's finesse. Harvesting time is crucial to winemaking, with

15360-430: The warmer weather of the state's wine regions. This allows winemakers to maintain the acidity levels that balance the fruity and flint earthiness that have characterized Washington Chardonnay. Apple notes are common, and depending on producer and appellation, can range from flavors of ' Golden Delicious ' and ' Fuji ' to ' Gala ' and ' Jonathan '. In Oregon, the introduction of Dijon clones from Burgundy has helped to adapt

15488-559: The wine industry and consumer wine markets, with some producers downplaying terroir and its effect on their wines. In the United States, the principles of terroir have been applied in a few limited instances, such as Vidalia onions , whose production area has been defined by the United States Department of Agriculture and Indian River fruit , which can only carry that label if grown within an area defined by

15616-485: The wine industry. Hotter temperatures and an earlier growing season can push berries towards a higher sugar content, less acids and differences in secondary compounds that are important for aromas. Growers are attempting to adapt in a variety of ways in response. In 2021, in a controversial move, the French National Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment formally authorized wine producers in

15744-548: Was Italy's fourth most widely planted white wine grape. Though many varietal forms of Chardonnay are produced, and the numbers are increasing, for most of its history in Italian winemaking Chardonnay was a blending grape. Besides Pinot bianco, Chardonnay can be found in blends with Albana , Catarratto , Cortese , Erbaluce , Favorita , Garganega , Grecanico , Incrocio Manzoni , Nuragus , Procanico , Ribolla Gialla , Verdeca , Vermentino and Viognier . It even blended into

15872-484: Was being explored in Australian TV show Kath & Kim , where lower middle class characters mispronounce the varietal as "kardonnay". Despite the backlash, Chardonnay remains very popular. In 2004, Chardonnay was estimated to be the world's 6th most widely grown grape variety, covering 179,300 hectares (443,000 acres). Currently trials are being run on genetically modified Chardonnay. Trials are underway in

16000-508: Was not identified as Chardonnay till the late 1980s. Today, Austrian Chardonnays range from the rich, oaked aged varieties to leaner, more aromatic styles based on Austrian Rieslings to sweet late harvest styles. In nearby Germany, this distinctly French wine grape was slow to gain a footing being only officially sanctioned since 1991. Today it is most commonly found in the Baden , Palatinate and Rheinhessen regions. In Switzerland, Chardonnay

16128-473: Was not widely known by the wine-drinking public. The success of California and new world Chardonnays, partly encouraged by the Californian showing at the Judgment of Paris wine tasting, brought varietal wine labeling to more prominence and the easy to pronounce Chardonnay grape was one of the largest beneficiaries. In the late 1980s, a sort of "Chardonnay-mania" developed as wine regions (particularly new and developing ones) dramatically increased their planting of

16256-489: Was the most widely planted white wine grape in Australia and third most planted overall behind Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. Early in the 21st century, demand outpaced supply and there was a shortage of Chardonnay grapes which prompted Australian winemakers to introduce new blending partners like Sémillon (known as "SemChard") and Colombard. Being a rather neutral grape, Australian winemakers first approached Chardonnay in

16384-400: Was well situated for the Chardonnay boom of the 1980s and 1990s and Australia responded with a unique style of wine that was characterized by big fruit flavors and easy approachability. To compensate for the very warm climate, richness was enhanced by the use of oak chips and acid was added during fermentation . During this period the number of Chardonnay plants increased fivefold and by 1990 it

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