Chardonnay. Pronounced Shar-don-ay
We love Chardonnay. It is the greatest white grape variety there is. Of course, it has been abused but like a thoroughbred horse or pedigree dog it is largely human intervention and mis-handling that has caused the aberrations. Anyone who has been lucky enough to enjoy a glass of Australian Chardonnay while watching the sun set across Sydney Harbour or a glass of Chablis whilst touring the vineyards of Burgundy will know that Chardonnay simply cannot be beaten.
Chardonnay has toured the world with ease and there probably isn't a wine producing country not currently experimenting with different uses for this grape. The very finest expressions of Chardonnay certainly hail from Burgundy but New Zealand can produce examples with similar elegance and balance and Australia (particularly in the Adelaide region and in the Margaret River) is thrilling the world with slimmed down versions of their 20th century classics. Meanwhile California is re-inventing their take on Chardonnay with reduced concentration and increased elegance. Equally we should never forget the role that Chardonnay plays in the world’s great sparkling wines, not least Blanc de Blancs Champagne.
Today the general trend is towards less intervention in the winery and a 'less is more style'. Amen to that!