Pronounced - shar-don-ay
Chardonnay is of French origin and is the principle white wine of Burgundy. In the Champagne area it is 100% of wines labelled blanc de blanc. Chardonnay is viticulturally and oenologically versatile and is grown with success in most viticultural areas under a variety of climatic conditions and can be made sparkling or still, with wood ageing or without and is blended with semillon in Australia at times. Chardonnay was the most sought after white grape through the late 1980's and 1990's.
This versatile variety will produce wines from medium to full bodied. "Drink-now" styles will display peach, apricot, melon, fig, honey, lemon and limes. Barrel fermented wines will have a further dimension added of vanilla, toast, lanolin, coconut, caramel, smoky, caramel, cheesy, yeast, bread, vegemite, buttery and butterscotch.
