WineVarietalsWhite
If Cabernet is the king of red wines, then Chardonnay is the queen ofthe whites. It is grown in virtually every commercial wine making area.Once erroneously thought to be a member of the Pinot family, this classicvariety is responsible for producing the greatest white Burgundies and isone of the three major grape types used in the production of Champagne andis very important in California sparkling wines. California chardonnay'sshow wonderful fruit flavors ranging from tropical to Citrus. Classic Burgundiesshow more mineral flavors. Australian chardonnay's can be very lush. Allchardonnay seems to benefit from aging in oak, giving them vanilla, andbutterscotch layers. Sparkling wines made with Chardonnay tend to drink"cleaner", less fruit than those made with Pinot Noir. Chardonnaysparkling wines tend to show more of the other flavors of vinification suchas a yeasty flavor and texture.
Synonyms: Arnaison, Aubaine, Beaunois, Chasselas, Epinette blanche,Feiner weisser burgunder, Melon blanc, Melon d'arbois, Muscadet, Petitesainte-marie, Pinot blanc, Pinot blanc chardonnay, Pinot chardonnay, Weisserclevner