Chardonnay

Question 1

Characteristics of Chardonnay

Answer 1

• cool climate: high acidity, light to medium body, green fruits, citrus fruits, wet stones
• moderate climate: medium to high acidity, medium to full body, lemon, stone fruit, tropical fruits (melon)
• warm climate: full body, medium acidity, stone fruit, tropical fruit (pineapple, banana)

Question 2

Winemaking and maturation of Chardonnay

Answer 2

• Malolactic conversion: dairy flavors (butter, cream) and soften harsh acidity
• lees contact during maturation: add body, biscuit and bread flavors
• Oak barrel fermentation: ad body, smoke, vanilla, coconut flavors
• -> only wines with sufficient flavor intensity will benefit with these processes.

good chardonnay can develop hazelnut, mushroom in the bottle while aging

Question 3

Important Regions of Chardonnay

Answer 3

France
- Burgundy: southwards from the cool vineyards of Chablis through the Cote d’or with a moderate climate
- Bourgogne AOC: anywhere grown in Burgundy. Simple apple, lemon, high acidity
- Chablis AOC: Village appellation. cool climate, dry high acidity, apple, lemon, whetstones.
Premier cru, Grand cru are on the hillsides facing south/southeast.
- Frost is a concern in Chablis. Mostly not oaked.
- Côte d’ôr: moderate climate, more ripe fruit flavors, peach and melon.
- Côte de Beaune: Meursault AOC, Puligny-Montrachet AOC: complex by fermentation and maturing.
- Maconnais: South of Burgundy: fruity, unoaked chardonnay Maccon AOC. Pouilly-Fuissé AOC: higher quality wines, stone fruit, tropical fruit, fermented and matured in oak

South of France

• warm climate
• high volume, ripe chardonnay, peach, pineapple and banana IGP labeled
• can be oaked

USA California:

• Central Valley: warm and dry, irrigation, high volume. Peach and pineapple, medium acidity, medium body. Oak flavors from chips.
• Carneros: North California: cooled by morning fogs from San Pablo bay
• Sonoma: cooled by Pacific ocean
• -> grapes retain acidity and develop complex fruit
• Napa Valley: Full body, tropical fruits, vanilla and spice from new oak.
• Santa Barbara County: quality Chardonnay, cooling sea breeze, lateral valleys. tropical fruit, high alcohol, new oak flavors

Oregon USA:
- moderate climate, refreshingly high acidity, citrus fruits, tropical notes

Australia:

• South Eastern: high volume, often blended
• Adelaide Hills: cooled by altitude
• Yarra Valley: cooled by ocean
• -> longer growing season, ripe stone fruit, tropical fruit, medium/high acidity, carefully balanced oak
• Margaret river: west australia, warm climate but cooling breezes, medium full body, ripe stone fruits, tropical fruits high, consistently quality

New Zealand:

• Marlborough: North/East region, cool/moderate climate, ocean influence and rainfall, good quality chardonnay, ripe lemon, peach, melon, high acidity, subtile oak
• Hawke’s Bay: East coast, moderate climate, full body wines, balanced by high acidity, pronounced stone fruits

Chile:

• Casablanca Valley: Sea breezes, morning fogs from the Pacific Ocean, elonging the growing season. refreshing wines, stonefruits, citrus, varying levels of oak.
• Central Valley: warmer region, inexpensive, high volume to outstanding

South Africa:

• Western Cape: High volume, sometimes blended with Chenin Blanc
• Walker Bay: coolest region, strong sea breezes from the south, very good quality, high acidity, ripe stone fruits, tropical fruits, oak