Chardonnay

History and significance

The most well known white wine varietal in the world, Chardonnay originally grew in Burgundy and Chablis, France. Chardonnay grapes produce very high quality wines and the plant can adapt to many diverse climates and soil types, with clay soil being arguably the best. Thanks to the versatility of the vine and to the distinct climates of Argentina’s wine growing regions, this wine can be found in all forms, from the fresh and light to the most complex oaked Chardonnay in Argentina.

Grown in...

Chardonnay grows most notably in France where it makes excellent sparkling and champagne wines. The wine is also commonly grown in California, New York, Italy, New Zealand, Australia, and even parts of China. Recently, Chardonnay plantings have skyrocketed in South America.  The most ideal zones for its cultivation in Argentina are the Tupungato, Maipu, San Rafael, and Agrelo regions of Mendoza, all totaling to 5,020 hectares of Chardonnay. San Juan, Argentina also has 885 hectares.  Argentina uses Chardonnay as a base for many sparkling wines, although the varietal can be a full-bodied wine with or without fermentation or oak aging.

Typicity

Citrus, green apple, honey, fresh butter, and at times floral traces such as acacia unearth themselves as characteristic aromas of Chardonnay.  These traits all depend on the climate and condition of the terroir in which the Chardonnay grows.  In cold climates, there are more vegetable and mineral notes.  In more temperate regions, tropical fruit aromas, such as pineapple and papaya, are prominent.  Chardonnays sometimes undergo a high grade of fermenting and aging in oak wood, in which case vanilla, honey, and butter aromas can appear.

tags: chardonnay ·