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Chardonnay Styles: What You Need to Know

Do you love Chardonnay?  There is a good chance that you do.  Chardonnay is the most popular wine in the U.S.

Chardonnay Styles: What You Need to Know

 

This French native hails from the Burgundy region, where it is the most commonly planted white wine grape. A white Burgundy is typically a Chardonnay, and Chablis is made with Chardonnay grown in the village of Chablis.

Chardonnay is the most widely planted wine grape in the world and it’s sold at all price points. While every bottle is the product of countless grape-growing and winemaking decisions, there are two main Chardonnay styles: crisp, clean-tasting unoaked Chards, and more complex oaked versions.

These styles are determined by where the wine is fermented, in stainless steel or in Oak barrels. Stainless steel fermented Chardonnay is typically called “unoaked.”

An un-oaked Chardonnay will typically be more lean and crisp than an oaked Chardonnay due to the fact that is not picking up the oak qualities from the barrel. In addition un-oaked Chardonnay will have more fresh fruit flavors and will typically be more food-friendly. Unoaked Chardonnay is often more affordable than oaked Chardonnay.

Oak barrel aging allows more contact with oxygen during the fermenting. And different types of oak can impart various flavors such as toast, vanilla, cedar, spice and smoke-y notes. New oak barrels can add flavors like clove and vanilla. All these different flavors add a complexity to the wine in your glass.

Sometimes winemakers will choose to ferment part of a wine batch in oak, the rest in stainless steel and then blend the two to create a specific taste profile.

What gives some Chardonnays a buttery texture? Malolactic fermentation, which is a secondary fermentation of the grapes. The more malolactic fermentation, the richer-textured the chardonnay. When malolactic fermentation is used in conjunction with oak, it can create butterscotch flavors. If you enjoy a very buttery Chardonnay, look for wines with extended malolactic fermentation (or MLF). If you enjoy crisp, lean, mineral-y Chardonnays, look for Chardonnays that have not undergone malolactic fermentation.

Not sure what your favorite is? Explore your palate and try both styles side by side to taste their differences. See our selection of handcrafted Chardonnays.

Leave your comments below on what Chardonnay styles you enjoy!

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7 Responses

  1. Thank you for the simple breakdown that I will share with all my bevmologists. It’s outlined brilliantly and will make their Chardonnay journey much less intimidating.

  2. Some winemakers use a combination of Stainless Steel, Neutral French Oak and New French Oak for fermentation and aging and then blend the 3 different lots prior to filtering and bottling to create the style they want. The New French Oak component varies depending on the ripeness of the fruit at harvest to gain the desired complexity and flavor profiles to match the fruit and balance the finished wine.

    • Karen D says:

      Great info, Daniel! Yes, some winemakers do blend oaked and un-oaked wine to create their ideal balance. Thank you!

  3. Colleen Hemphill says:

    Great information and article — Chardonnay is always one of my top selections, I often choose it when I am undecided! Will make sure to choose a US brand next time.

    A.Colleen H.

  4. gail says:

    Info great Ok so what cardonnays with that buttery ending does CWC offer? So perfect for the
    cooler weather. Suggestions please

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