A Tour of Wine Grapes: Chardonnay

Chardonnay Image from Wikimedia Commons Chardonnay is one of the most widely planted varieties. Although it is probably best known as the white grape of Burgundy it’s also a major grape in the production of Champagne. Chardonnay is a versatile grape, and its style can vary widely depending on where it’s grown and how it’s made. Basically, Chardonnay grapes produce wines of a light golden hue, with notes of citrus, green apple, with floral aromas. On the palate, Chardonnay has moderate acidity and moderate alcohol with a medium body. But it’s said that Chardonnay is a bit of a chameleon — it reflects its winemaking process more than almost any other grape. Crisp and Bright - This style is based on Chardonnay’s natural high acidity with flavors of green apple, lemon, lime and pineapple. It is fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks so as to leave these flavors unaltered. They are minimally aged and consumed young so as to feature the bright acidity, crisp citrus and tropical fruit fl

by Marc Kirkpatrick · source ↗