2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
Chardonnay (Chardonnay) is a white wine grape that originates from the regions of Burgundy and Champagne, France, where it has been grown since ancient times. Chardonnay is the king of white varieties, whose popularity is extremely high. Chardonnay is the most successful grape variety in the world, which is the basis of some of the most popular wines of the general public.
The reputation of Chardonnay is built mainly on the classic areas of distribution in France. In Burgundy, Chardonnay is the main variety. World-class wines from Ivory Coast and Chablis have wines. The Champagne region is another center for growing Chardonnay. It is there that the plantations of the three varieties approved for the production of French champagne - Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Noir are located.
Apart from France, Chardonnay is distributed in many countries around the world. In Bulgaria Chardonnay is grown mainly in the northeastern parts, Plovdiv region, Srednogorieto and the region of Sungurlare. The Chardonnay variety has several clonal variations - some mutations have a musky tone and are called Chardonnay musk, and the pink grapes are Chardonnay rose.
Chardonnay is a relatively early variety - it ripens in late August. It has a medium strong growth, gives medium yields. Deeper, richer calcareous areas at the foot of hills are suitable for it. In cooler areas it also gives excellent results.
The bunch of Chardonnay is small - 95 g, cylindrical-conical, loose to medium dense and compact. Its berries are small and spherical, yellow-green with a pleasant golden hue on its sunny side. They have a waxy coating and small brownish spots. The flesh of the grapes is juicy, with a harmonious taste. The skin is tough and thin.
The sugar content of grape juice is 18-22.9 g / 100 ml and the acids are 11.6-8.2 g / l. Chardonnay should be picked before its acids begin to subside - this is the moment shortly before the grapes develop their true character. The vinification of Chardonnay requires modern technology to control the temperature in the cellar. An interesting fact is that Chardonnay is already so popular that it is grown in climatic zones that are by no means considered suitable - India, England and Uruguay.
History of Chardonnay
Chardonnay has been cultivated since ancient times in the lands of Mesopotamia - today's Lebanon. Much later, only at the beginning of the 9th century, Chardonnay was brought to France, to the lands of Burgundy, where the monks began to grow it, and in fact from there began the path of its world fame. Genetic tests show that Chardonnay is a hybrid variety whose ancestors are Pinot Noir and Goa Blanc, the latter being a completely extinct variety.
In the 1960s, 20 winemakers from Australia and California chose chardonnay as a new variety to plant huge areas of land. The choice of the winemakers of that time cannot be defined as accidental at all - Burgundy wines made from 100% Chardonnay were one of the most renowned wines of their time. To this day, Burgundy white wines are the measure of exceptional quality.
Twenty years later, in which all other wine-producing countries watched with great interest what was happening in California and Australia - unprecedented and total. success of the chardonnay. Due to this truly unprecedented success, the planting of Chardonnay vineyards all over the world immediately began. The speed of planting can be likened to a mass hysteria among winemakers. Many varieties are even uprooted and discarded, only to give way to the new variety, which takes over the tastes of the audience - Chardonnay.
Apart from its incredible taste, Chardonnay is gaining so much popularity among winemakers because of its unpretentiousness to soils and climatic conditions, good resistance to most diseases and good acid levels.
Nowadays the chardonnay has become synonymous with white wine in North America and is extremely well received in the rest of the continent. In 1990, it surpassed the Riesling and became the most common variety in Texas, Oregon and Washington.
Chardonnay features
Chardonnay wines they boast a dense body, sufficient alcohol content and a long aftertaste.
Chardonnay is characterized by amazing fruity aromas, which are often reminiscent of fragrant yellow fruit (pineapple, papaya, pear and melon), when the wine is made from well-ripened grapes. Chardonnay often has a very dense body and a relatively high alcohol content, which allows it to mature in new oak barrels.
The best chardonnays from California and Australia are just that and easily win the hearts of people with amazing aromas of coconut and sweet vanilla, which are due to the new barrel. In general, the taste of wine varies depending on the origin and vinification.
Chardonnay is an extremely popular wine mainly because of its unique oil nuances, as well as because of the whole basket of fruits that are felt in the taste - melon, apple, quince, lemon, grapefruit, fig. Burgundy chardonnays also boast many aromas and fruity flavors, with apple, pear and lemon predominating, combined with an exceptional mineral presence. The stronger Chardonnays are credited with the taste of butter or nuts.
Serving chardonnay
Chardonnay is very successfully combined with fresh vegetables and various summer dishes. It is an excellent company of oily fish and seafood. Aromatic white wine goes well with seafood salads, as well as complex salads that have many ingredients. Oysters and Chardonnay are an exquisite combination that is suitable for the most special occasions.
Chardonnay is extremely suitable to combine with different types of pasta, especially spaghetti and lasagna, which are prepared with a thick cream sauce. Tender chicken and beef, soft cheeses like brie and Camembert are a great addition to the amazing Chardonnay.
As Chardonnay is a fine wine, it goes very well with light and sophisticated appetizers. It can be served with dessert, mostly fruit and a light cake with fruit cream.
Temperature is one of the most important factors when consuming wine, and for Chardonnay it should be 9-11 degrees.
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With What Foods And Dishes To Serve Chardonnay
Chardonnay is an exquisite wine that is characterized by high acidity and very fine aroma and taste. It goes well with fresh vegetables that are very tender - such as asparagus and artichokes. Chardonnay is also successfully combined with various types of oily fish, grilled or baked in foil.
