Chardonnay
The white chameleon — steel to oak, Chablis to Napa.
Chardonnay is the most stylistically versatile white grape. Unoaked, malo-blocked Chablis tastes of green apple and crushed shell. Oaked, malo-completed Napa or Côte de Beaune turns into butter, hazelnut, vanilla. Sparkling Champagne uses it for elegance (blanc de blancs). The grape itself is neutral — winemaking choices write most of the flavor.
Typical regions
Signature wines
- White Burgundy
- Champagne (blanc de blancs)
- Napa Chard
Food pairings
- lobster
- roast chicken
- creamy pasta
Tasting profile
Recipes featuring Chardonnay
kit easy
6-Gallon Chardonnay Kit
Chardonnay kits take to oak handling well — most premium kits include oak chips for a buttery, vanilla-tinged …
grape advanced
White Grape Pét-Nat (Méthode Ancestrale)
Pétillant naturel — pet-nat — is the simplest sparkling method and the riskiest. You bottle live wine before p…