Chardonnay Wine – The Things You Need to Know (But Might Not)

Chardonnay is one of those odd examples of wines. Though it is almost universally popular, with the grape being grown in territories all over the world, it has never really been a grape that is associated with a specific territory. No region really lays claim to being the “home of Chardonnay”, with the grape being one that has spread like wildfire throughout the world. 

And it’s easy to see why.

Chardonnay wines are some of the most beloved in the world, as they tend to find their way onto the menus of most restaurants and bars. It is also an excellent blending grape, meaning that many producers grow it to enhance the qualities of their more native grapes. And of course, Chardonnay is also the main grape used in Champagne, which has helped to further its appeal.

We know that you have had at least one Italian wine that contains Chardonnay before…

So how about we take a look at this most versatile of grapes? In this article, we dive into some of the things you need to know about Chardonnay, many of which are things that people tend not to recognise about it!

#1 – It Originates From Burgundy

We mentioned above that Chardonnay is so widely grown that it doesn’t really have a region that calls the grape its own.

But it used to and, some would argue, that it still does.

Our earliest records of the grape show it being grown in Burgundy, France, many hundreds of years ago. In fact, its name comes from an ancient village in Burgundy called Cardonnacum, which was named by the Romans. Incidentally, “chardon” is the French name for thistle, which was used for the first half of Chardonnay’s name.

So, the grape does technically have a home and it is still grown widely in Burgundy. Of course, we know that there are many Italian wine producers who grow their own Chardonnay, alongside many producers the world over, which means this grape has somehow managed to transcend its area of origin.

#2 – It Was Once Considered a Weaker Grape

Looking at Chardonnay’s popularity now, it’s hard to conceive of a time when the grape wasn’t globally popular.

But that time existed and it was only in fairly recent times that Chardonnay has managed to gain the reputation that it currently holds. The explosion in popularity began in 1976 during an event known as Judgement of Paris. This was essentially a wine contest in which various vintages were stacked up against each other to see which one would come out on top. To the surprise of everybody, a Chardonnay from California managed to defeat another Chardonnay from France.

And that was the trigger.

With the victory secured, Chardonnay quickly became one of the most widely planted grapes in the United States. It experienced over 1,000% growth in the US, with many other countries following suit and making it a point to plant more of it.

Today, Chardonnay accounts for over 400,000 acres of vineyards around the world. And while it was widely grown before its famous victory at Judgement of Paris, the grape has entered into rarefied air since. It’s no longer seen as an also-ran in the world of wine. It’s a true contender for the title of the most important grape in the world!

#3 – It’s Amazing For Pairing

Perhaps the rise of Chardonnay can be explained, in part, by its stunning versatility. We mentioned earlier that it has become an extremely popular blending grape, with many of the Italian white wines you enjoy using it as a grape that can accentuate the properties of others.

This versatility extends to pairing the wine with foods. Chardonnay has a full body, which helps to set it apart from many other white wines, and its combination of forward notes and more subtle flavours helps it to mesh well with an enormous range of foods. Chicken, fish, pork, vegetables, and fish all pair extremely well with the wine. But perhaps more surprisingly, it also pairs well with red meats, especially steak, and spicy foods, such as curry. This may explain why Chardonnay has become one of the go-to choices for people attending dinner parties and why it’s ever-present on the menus of most restaurants. No matter what you’re eating, there’s a good chance the wine will pair well with it.

#4 – The Role of Charlemagne’s Wife

Now, we’re veering into legend territory. We mentioned earlier that the Romans took a liking to this grape, which was natively grown in Burgundy. But the legend goes that it achieved most of its early popularity thanks to the wife of Emperor Charlemagne.

Apparently, she’d grown sick and tired of dealing with all of the red wine stains that were left behind in the Emperor’s beard after he had enjoyed a feast with his people. To counter the distasteful stains, the Emperor’s wife ordered the planting of a white wine variety so that Charlemagne could enjoy his wines without worrying about the stains.

Chardonnay was the choice.

This legend also seemingly plays into the name given to the wine. Of course, this is where some contention arises as there is an alternative explanation for the origins of the name, which we shared above. 

Which is true?

We may never know.

#5 – Italy is Not a Leading Producer of Chardonnay

We know that Chardonnay is used in many Italian wines. This would naturally bring us to the conclusion that Italy must be one of the grape’s top producers.

But this isn’t the case.

In fact, Italy doesn’t even land in the Top Three! France comes first, perhaps unsurprisingly, followed by the United States. Rounding up the trio, we have Australia, which has really taken the grape to heart.

Italy is knocking of the door of the Top Three though, coming in as the fourth country in terms of surface area dedicated to the grape.

And of course, there are plenty of Italian wines that use it, as you will see if you run a search for Chardonnay on the Xtrawine website!