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Chardonnay Wine Information
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Chardonnay is the most popular white
wine in California.
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In France, the great white Burgundies
are made with the Chardonnay grape.
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The Chardonnay grape
is one of the primary grapes used in the production
of Champagne.
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Chardonnay is a medium to heavy bodied
wine with fruit flavors of apples and
pears. Vanilla
and buttery flavors are imparted during the winemaking
process. Chardonnay often has a creamy feel in
the mouth. Other fruit flavors that may
be present are peach, pineapple, floral, and
lime.
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Chardonnay matches well with grilled chicken,
salmon, shellfish, halibut, and pastas
served with a cream sauce such as Fettuccini
Alfredo. Fresh
cracked crab with Chardonnay is a terrific
match.
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The vanilla flavors in Chardonnay are
the result of aging in oak barrels. The
buttery favors of Chardonnay are the result
of a secondary fermentation known as malolactic
fermentation.
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Some winemakers choose to
avoid or limit malolactic fermentation
in order to make the chardonnay a bit
softer and fruitier. This
seems to be more the norm these days, as winemakers
choose to make a food friendly Chardonnay.
Chateau Montelena is an example of a
winery that does not allow malolactic
fermentation to occur. Their Chardonnay
is aged in French oak barrels for 6
to 8 months.
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A few winemakers
may choose to make a non-oaky and
non-buttery Chardonnay by aging the Chardonnay grapes in
stainless steel tanks with no malolactic
fermentation. Hendry Winery in
Napa bottles a Hendry Ranch Chardonnay made in this manner.
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The
best Chardonnays come from the cool growing climates
such as the Green Valley or the Carneros Region.
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The
best Chardonnays have a delicate balance of fruit flavors
with a soft oak flavors.
Visit these Wine Trails to find great Chardonnay Wine
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