Chardonnay

The Chardonnay is one of the most widespread and prestigious white grape varieties in the world, native to Burgundy, in France. Thanks to its great adaptability to different climates and soils, Chardonnay is grown in many wine regions, showing unique characteristics depending on the terroir and the winemaking style.

Characteristics of the Chardonnay Grape Variety

Agronomic Aspects

• Origin: Burgundy (France), now grown all over the world.
• Climate: It adapts to cool, temperate and warm climates, expressing different characteristics in each region.
• Soil: It prefers limestone, clay and marl soils, which bring out its minerality and structure.

Grape Characteristics

• Berry: Thin skin, golden yellow in colour with green highlights.
• Aromatic profile: Fresh and mineral in cool climates, riper and fruitier in warm climates.

Wines Made from Chardonnay

Colour

• Dry Whites: Bright straw yellow with greenish highlights in the young wines.
• Wood-Aged: Deep golden yellow with amber shades.
• Metodo Classico sparkling wines: Pale yellow with a fine, persistent perlage.

Aromas

• Fruity: Citrus, green apple, pear, pineapple and tropical fruit in warmer climates.
• Floral: White flowers, acacia, hawthorn.
• Mineral: Shades of flint, chalk and sea savouriness in the more elegant wines.
• Spicy: Vanilla, butter, hazelnut and almond in wood-aged wines.
• Autolytic (in Traditional Method Sparkling Wines): Hints of bread crust, brioche and yeast.

Palate

• Fresh and mineral: In the young wines, with vibrant acidity.
• Structured and enveloping: In the wines aged in wood, with a creamy feel.
• Elegant and persistent: In the great Chardonnay wines, with long aromatic evolution.

Growing Areas

• Burgundy (France): The great Chardonnays of Chablis and the Côte de Beaune.
• Champagne (France): The main base for Blanc de Blancs Champagnes.
• California (USA): Rounder wines, with notes of butter and vanilla thanks to wood ageing.
• Friuli Venezia Giulia e Alto Adige (Italy): Mineral, fresh expressions.
• Franciacorta e Trento DOC (Italy): A fundamental base for traditional method sparkling wines.
• Australia and New Zealand: More tropical, structured versions.

Types of Chardonnay-Based Wine

• Young Chardonnay: Fresh, fruity and mineral, perfect for drinking straight away.
• Wood-Aged Chardonnay: Structured and complex, with notes of butter, vanilla and nuts.
• Metodo Classico sparkling wines: Elegant and refined, with fine bubbles and long persistence.

Food Pairings

Young Chardonnay

• Seafood: Oysters, prawns, tuna tartare.
• Light Dishes: Seafood salads, fish carpaccio.
• Fresh Cheeses: Buffalo mozzarella, burrata, ricotta.

Wood-Aged Chardonnay

• Grilled Fish and Shellfish: Lobster, baked turbot.
• Creamy First Courses: Truffle risotto, seafood pasta.
• Aged Cheeses: Parmigiano aged 36 months, Pecorino toscano.

Metodo Classico sparkling wines

• Fine-Dining Dishes: Foie gras, caviar, truffle.
• Fried Fish: Squid, fried prawns.

Why Choose a Chardonnay?