All About Chardonnay

By Anita Hale


It is pretty self evident that chardonnay is the most famous white wine going. Chardonnay is one of the key noble grape varieties. There are over 1000 different varieties of these grapes that are currently used in wine-making. Chardonnay originates from the Burgundy region of France. Here it is used to produce afresh and very dry white wine. This is particularly true of the wine from the Chablis area. The limestone soil in Chablis is thought to contribute to the freshness in flavour.

This flavour gradually changes the further south the grape is found. For instance, the Cte Chalonnaise is renowned for producing the wines "Montagny" and "Mercurey." These wines differ in taste because they have a nutty softness to them. This gentle creaminess is said to be a result of old oak that is used in their production.

It is possible to find chardonnay outside of the Burgundy region. There are three grapes that are allowed to be used in the production of champagne. Chardonnay is one of them. The others are pinot noir and pinot meunier. Of course, all of these white grapes must be grown and bottled in the region itself to be classed as true champagne. Champagne that is produced solely from the chardonnay grape is known as Blanc de Blancs. You can find this grape growing on the chalk hills of the area. As such, the area is known as the Cte des Blancs.

The further south you find the chardonnay grape, the more mellow its taste becomes. In addition to this it also tastes more rounded and even buttery. This is in contrast to the steely and dry flavour it has further north. Charodnnay can be blended with other grapes like Viognier and Marsanne. This will effectively reduce the richness of its taste. However, it can also add a fruity element to the flavour.

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.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment