Midalidare’s Grape Varieties: Chardonnay in a nutshell

Part 1: Essential information about Chardonnay

• Chardonnay is one of the most planted white grapes in the world, with over 494,000 acres (200,000 hectares) planted worldwide.
• The variety is named after a village in Bourgogne called Chardonnay and the Romans called Cardonnacum,
• Researchers have discovered that the Chardonnay grape is the result of a cross between two other grape varieties: the Pinot Noir and Gouais Blanc (Heunisch). This “marriage” of grapes is believed to have occurred spontaneously around the 12th century, making Chardonnay somewhat of a “medieval” grape. The Gouais Blanc grape is almost extinct today but has played a significant role in the development of many classic varieties.
• The Judgement of Paris: While the event itself is famous, many might not know that a Chardonnay from Chateau Montelena in Napa Valley helped put New World wines on the map during the 1976 Judgement of Paris. In a blind tasting, French judges awarded this Californian Chardonnay first place over several famous white Burgundies, shaking the wine industry and elevating the status of wines produced outside the traditional European regions.
• It is the most planted grape in California, but in France it takes second place, behind the Ugni Blanc variety.
• The versatility of Chardonnay is undoubtedly one of its most appealing traits, with a flavor profile that can range from crisp and vibrant to rich and opulent, depending on its origin and vinification process. For those unacquainted with Chardonnay’s diverse palette, the wine can surprise with its multitude of expressions. The grape’s adaptability allows winemakers to craft everything from the steely, unoaked styles reminiscent of green apples and pear to the more decadent, oak-aged versions that exude layers of butterscotch and vanilla
• Chardonnay is one of the three “Champagne” varieties along with Pinot Noir and Meunier.
• Chardonnay is generally more expensive than other white wines.
• There are three fermentation methods the winemaker can choose from when crafting Chardonnay: Ferment in stainless tanks giving complete control over the fermentation temperature, fermentation in barrels, and fermentation in concrete. The fermentation vessel makes a notable difference in the flavor profile of the final wine.
• Chardonnay often undergoes a process called malolactic fermentation, which changes sharp malic acid into softer lactic acid, adding butter and yogurt notes.
• Chardonnay is said to be a winemaker’s grape, as it gets many of its hallmark tasting notes of butter and vanilla from winemaking methods.
• Wente in California is famous for cloning Chardonnay from Burgundy in 1912. That clone (called the Wente clone) is the source material for nearly 80% of American Chardonnay plantings today.
• “Blanc de Blancs” on a Champagne label means 100% Chardonnay.
•  International Chardonnay Day is celebrated on May 25th.

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