How to Identify Chardonnay Style Wine

The Chardonnay grape is the one of the most popular varieties of white wine grapes in the world. There are over 400,000 acres of its vineyards worldwide and the wine it makes has become the best-selling white wine in America. Despite their popularity, many Chardonnay wines also boast a variety of flavors and aromas wide enough to please even the most demanding of palates.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Observe the wine's color. Chardonnay should have a clear, but bold light shade of gold.

2. Search the flavors of the wine for a hint of smokiness. Although geography heavily influences the flavors of individual Chardonnay styles, most contain a slightly smoky tinge.

3. Make note of the different fruit flavors you taste in the wine. Chardonnays usually exhibit the flavors of apple, citrus, melon and tropical fruit. These flavors may change depending on where the grapes were grown.

4. Taste whether or not the wine tastes buttery or oaky. Many winemakers ferment Chardonnays in oak barrels, which produces both of these flavors. A special kind of fermentation also enhances the wine's butteriness.

5. Make sure the wine is dry. Chardonnays fall under the broad category of Dry White Wines, so they shouldn't taste overly sweet or have a high sugar content.

6. Check the wine's flavor for hints of flint and mint. These are two of the more common flavors found in Chardonnay's terroir.

Tips & Warnings

• Serve Chardonnay wine with poultry and seafood dishes. Because many Chardonnays are rich and complex, you'll appreciate them more when you pair them with simple entrées.

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