Chardonnay is the world's second most planted white grape behind Airen, a Spanish grape primarily used for distillation. It is the white grape of both Burgundy and Champagne, but now can be found in nearly every wine region of the world.
One great characteristic of Chardonnay is its versatility. It grows well in cool and hot regions, although it is typically considered a cool climate grape. The climate of the Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valleys are particularly well suited for Chardonnay. The very cool nights in the region help maintain acidity in the grape, something it can lose in too warm of regions. The grape is used to create everything from sparkling wines (Blanc de Blancs Champagnes are 100% Chardonnay) to full-bodied whites pushing 16% alcohol.
The grape also has a propensity for oak fermentation and aging, which is often misrepresented as the cause of the buttery flavor many California Chardonnays have. This is actually caused by a byproduct of malolactic fermentation known as diacetyl. A Chardonnay can be oaked without being buttery with proper management of the malolactic fermentation. At Old World Winery we allow our Chardonnay a day of skin contact before fermentation and 8 months of aging in 100% new French oak.We use sulfur minimally, and the diacetyl is completely consumed before making any sulfur additions. The result is a rich Chardonnay with pleasant oak aromas and no buttery flavor.
