In what climates can Chardonnay grow?
- Cool
- Moderate
- Warm
What can greatly affect Chardonnay’s flavor profile?
What climate it’s grown in.
The cooler the climate, the more under-ripe and green-fruited it will be;
The warmer the climate, the more ripe and tropical it will be.
Describe the profile of a cool climate Chardonnay.
- Light to medium body
- High acidity
- Green orchard fruits (apple, pear)
- Tart citrus
- River rock
Describe the profile of a moderate climate Chardonnay.
- Medium to full body
- Medium to high acidity
- Ripe citrus
- Melon (green, orange)
- Stone fruits
Describe the profile of a warm climate Chardonnay.
- Full body
- Medium acid
- Ripe peach/stone fruits
- Tropical fruits/pineapple
What is a typical winemaking adjustment made to warm climate Chardonnays?
Acidification
What winemaking options can be deployed to add complexity to Chardonnay?
- Malolactic conversion
- Oak vessels
- Lees aging
All are optional; when used, winemakers must ensure the wine remains in balance.
What are some more affordable alternatives to using new oak barrels?
- Oak staves
- Oak chips
These alternatives are used on low- and medium-quality wines, not premium wines.
Which region in France grows and produces some of the finest Chardonnays in the world?
Burgundy
Fill in the blank:
In Burgundy, excellent examples of Chardonnay come from the more northern, cool climate appellation of _____. You can also find good examples of Chardonnay further south in Burgundy, in the more moderate climate area of _____.
Chablis in the north, Mâconnais in the south
What is Burgundy’s most northern AOC for Chardonnay?
Chablis AOC
What regional AOC can be used on a label if the Chardonnay grapes came from anywhere within Burgundy?
Bourgogne AOC
As Chablis is a cool climate, what will the flavor profile and style of Chardonnays from here be?
- High acidity
- Light to medium body
- Green fruits (apple, pear)
- Citrus fruits (lemon)
- Wet stone
- Dry
In which direction do most Premier Cru and Grand Cru vineyards of Chablis face?
South/southwest
Why does having a south/southwest facing vineyard help in cool climates like Chablis?
- maximum sun exposure
- helps the grapes ripen
- develops more flavorful characteristics
What is the main weather threat for Chablis?
Springtime frost
What can happen to the vine if frost strikes?
Frost can burn new plant material and cause flowers to fall off, decreasing that vintage’s yields before the flowers even turn into grapes.
Generally, does Chablis see lots of new oak or no oak at all?
No oak
Most Chablis are raised in inert vessels.Some Grand Cru Chablis will see some new oak.
What is the climate of the Côte d’Or?
Moderate
Which Chardonnay will taste riper, peachier, and have a medium body: Chablis or one from the Côte d’Or?
One from the Côte d’Or due to its more moderate climate.
Of the 2 sections of the Côte d’Or (Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune), which one focuses on Chardonnay production?
Côte de Beaune (southern section)
Name 2 villages in the Côte de Beaune that are famous for their Chardonnays.
- Meursault AOC
- Puligny-Montrachet AOC
Which winemaking options are typically deployed for Chardonnays from Meursault AOC and Puligny-Montrachet AOC?
- Lees aging
- Oak aging
- Malolactic conversion
What are some tertiary notes typically found on developing/aged Chardonnays?
- Hazelnuts
- Mushrooms
Name two commonly seen Chardonnay AOCs in Mâconnais.
- Mâcon AOC
- Pouilly-Fuissé AOC
Generally, are most Chardonnays from the Mâconnais oaked or not oaked?
Not oaked
However, most Pouilly-Fuissés will be oaked.
What style of Chardonnay typically comes out of the south of France?
Ripe, fruity, tropical Chardonnays.
Lesser expensive ones may be raised in inert vessels with or without oak chips; more expensive ones might see barrel use (new or neutral).
Where in California is bulk Chardonnay mostly grown?
The inland Central Valley
Most grapes grown here are labelled with the statewide appellation California.
Central Valley has a warm and dry climate producing peachy-pineapple-y, medium bodied Chardonnays.
Which appellation is generally used for Chardonnays from California’s Central Valley ?
California
Why do coastal areas of California produce Chardonnays with more balance and complex fruit flavors?
Coastal areas are influenced by morning fog and cool Pacific breezes which mitigate California’s heat and allow for a longer/cooler growing season; this helps grapes retain their acidity.
Which 2 areas in Northern California are known to be cooled by fog and/or Pacific breezes?
- Carneros
- Coastal areas of Sonoma County (e.g. Sonoma Coast)
What style of Chardonnay usually comes out of Napa Valley?
- Full bodied
- Tropical fruity
- Oaky
Which county on California’s Central Coast is known for its Chardonnay?
Santa Barbara County
What is the style of Chardonnay that comes from Santa Barbara County?
It varies
Some will express similar characteristics of the Côte de Beaune (high acid, lemon, medium body, little oak) and some will be more like Napa (medium acid, tropical fruits, full body, lots of oak).
Fill in the blank:
The climate in Oregon is generally _____.
moderate
Why do Oregon Chardonnays typically have higher acidity than Napa Valley Chardonnays?
Oregon’s climate is generally moderate and cooler than Napa, allowing the grapes to retain their acidity.
What appellation in Australia produces Chardonnay in high volume (and is usually low-to-medium quality)?
South Eastern Australia
The grapes can come from anywhere within this huge area.
What are the names of the 3 appellations in Australia where high quality Chardonnay is produced and what shared feature do they have?
- Margaret River
- Yarra Valley
- Adelaide Hills
All 3 areas are cooler due to altitude (Adelaide Hills) or ocean breezes.
What fruit profile does Chardonnay from Australia typically express?
- Peach/ripe stone fruits
- Pineapple/tropical fruits
Which appellation on New Zealand’s South Island is known for Chardonnay and what is its climate?
Marlborough which has a cool to moderate climate.
What weather patterns help Marlborough produce such good Chardonnay?
- Sea breezes (help grapes retain high acidity)
- Rainfall
Which appellation on New Zealand’s North Island is known for Chardonnay? What is its climate?
Hawke’s Bay which has a moderate climate.
Do New Zealand’s Chardonnays generally have high or low acidity?
High acidity and peach/stone fruit flavors, too.
What region in Chile is known for experiencing Pacific sea breezes and morning fog?
Casablanca Valley
The Central Valley in Chile is large and warm, and makes Chardonnays that vary from inexpensive to pricey. What feature of this valley helps the grapes retain their acidity?
Altitude
Altitude can help alleviate the heat of the valley, lending freshness to the grapes.
Fill in the blank:
High-volume, bulk Chardonnay from South Africa is known to come from the hot inland areas of the _____ _____.
Western Cape
When making high-volume Chardonnay in South Africa, many winemakers will blend in what grape and why?
Chenin Blanc, because its naturally high acidity will balance the low acid, blousy style of warm climate Chardonnay.
What is one of the coolest growing areas in South Africa to plant Chardonnay?
Walker Bay
What cools down Walker Bay?
Strong, cool breezes coming off the South Ocean.
This consistent cooling helps grapes retain their acidity to balance the ripe peachy/pineapple-y flavors Walker Bay is known for.
How are today’s oak trends with Chardonnay different from the oak trends in the 1980s and 1990s?
Today oak usage is considerably down from what it was in the 80s and 90s when it dominated the wine.
Today winemakers are more judicious with their oak usage.
What is Chardonnay also known as?
The winemaker’s grape
Chardonnay is a grape that winemakers use to demonstrate their skills in controlling malo, lees and oak aging, and how those techniques can bolster the expression of a vineyard or climate.
