There is no wine quite so triggering and controversial as Chardonnay.
Sure, you can claim Merlot, or even Pinot Grigio, might hold this distinction, but looking at the history of wine drinkers and growers, and you’ll find that the grudge held against and the passion for Chardonnay is the strongest.
Perhaps the most universal wine in the world, and the easiest to find no matter what airport, hotel or small town bar you are in, Chardonnay is rife with controversy. Love it (like Christine of Girls Go Grape), obsesson it (go #chardcore), or run screaming, this grape has some Gossip Girl legends going for it.
From the thin, inexpensive bulk wines of the south of France and California, to the the richly fragrant and textured wines of Burgundy, there really is a Chardonnay for everyone – that will not compromise on taste, quality or yum factor.
Personally, I was a card carrying member of the Anything but Chardonnay club for years – a victim of too many bad glasses (bottles?) or thin, acidic plonk, or overly oaky, buttery goldenrod and viscous liquids that were equally disappointing to my taste buds.
Now, as both a well educated wine consumer, and an experienced taster – I gravitate tot he higher acid, bright fruity gems of the Sonoma Coast, Anderson Valley and Burgundy (particularly Chablis), as well as Oregon which is increasingly more and more “Burgundian”, while Burgundy becomes something else entirely.
For my Rombauer Chardonnay fans, who enjoy that buttery, creamy style, the creamy rich and powerful Chardonnays of Margaret River, Western Australia are a beautiful way to taste the nuance and longevity without drinking “butter bombs”.
Chablis lovers will delight in Tasmanian Chardonnay, which can be a great way to save over the increasing costs of French examples.
For the best Chardonnay wines, cast a wide net – it is, quite literally the most widely planted grape in the world, and you can find it nearly everywhere.
This sturdy workhorse grape is hardy, adaptable, and malleable – and is the backbone for white wines and sparkling wines alike.
Obviously there are hundreds of other regions out there with everything from great to terrible examples of Chardonnay, but this gives you a go to guide to go out and try some.
Don’t be afraid! Hate butter? Head to Sonoma Coast or Chablis for a refreshing, bright, minerally wine.
Love butter? Go see some of the more intense regions of the Côte du Beaune region of Burgundy Napa.
Something in between?
Check out Oregon, Italy and South Africa for some fun wine experimentation!
Hang up the “Anything But” part of your card, and replace it with “Always Be” Chardonnay!
Golden, buttery, oaky.
Bright, citrus, steely.
Tropical oasis, alternative to Sav Blanc.
All of these things can be used to describe Chardonay.
So why are you still saying Anything But Chardonnay?
Bit by bit, over the last 25 years, the great French houses have been quietly creeping in to the Americas. From Canada, down to California, and on in to South America, prestigious and established french houses have added extensions in the new world.One such house
If you’re a fan of the period piece Downtown Abbey as I am, you are no doubt experiencing withdrawal symptoms now that they are on hiatus for the rest of the year. Yet, I am always enthralled at the ritual involved when the wine is selected
