Chardonnay
The white grape of Burgundy and Champagne — as neutral as a blank canvas, as specific as the soil beneath it.
Key regions
- Burgundy
- Chablis
- Champagne
- Sonoma Coast
- Yarra Valley
Flavor profile
Aging potential
2–15+ years for premier/grand cru Burgundy.
Chardonnay is a chameleon. Unoaked in Chablis it tastes of wet stone, green apple, and saline — stern and mineral. Barrel-fermented in Meursault it becomes golden, nutty, and rich. In Champagne it's the engine of blanc de blancs, adding tension and longevity. The variety became so identified with over-oaked California blockbusters in the 1990s that 'ABC' (Anything But Chardonnay) became a drinking philosophy — a shame, since great Chardonnay is among the most complex whites on Earth.
Food pairings
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