How To

How to Choose a Chardonnay

Contributor
By eHow Contributing Writer
(3 Ratings)

White wines made from chardonnay grapes are as popular as
they are esteemed. This general outline makes it easy to
choose a good one.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Chardonnay
  • Wine Glasses
  1. Step 1

    Take some time to learn about styles of chardonnay. The country or state where the wine is produced makes a difference, influencing everything from growing conditions to style of winemaking.

  2. Step 2

    Compare chardonnays from different regions. You'll notice that chardonnays from France tend to express fewer of the fruity characteristics of the grape but seek a balance between the nonfruit and fruit aspects, while California chardonnays tend to emphasize the fruit and rely on much more oak influence.

  3. Step 3

    Find out about the effects of weather on different styles of wine. Grapes have a difficult time ripening during any season in Burgundy, which is France's major chardonnay-producing region. But California rarely sees a season when grapes don't fully ripen. Riper grapes yield more fruity characteristics.

  4. Step 4

    A wine with a designated subregion is usually of a higher quality than one with just a general regional designation. Notice when a label says 'Carneros' or 'Santa Maria Valley,' for instance, instead of just 'California' or 'North Coast.'

  5. Step 5

    Notice that some wines are labeled even more specifically, and see if you detect a higher-quality wine to go with the predictably higher price.

  6. Step 6

    Remember the vintage, winery and any other label characteristics of the chardonnays you like, so you can find them again.

Tips & Warnings
  • Some outstanding Australian chardonnays can now compete with the best examples from France and California.

Comments  

grapegirls said

Flag This Comment

on 3/13/2009 Gerri (right)is a staunch white wine drinker, but Chris and I both prefer reds. However, we recently came across a non-traditional Chardonnay that we could all live with. Just get out their and sip, you won't know what you like (or don't) until you try!:)

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