Did you know that Chardonnay is the second most widely grown grape variety in the world?

There are over 30 different varietals of Chardonnay grown by producers around the world. The grape is a cross between Gouais Blanc and Pinot Noir; researchers believe that the cross-breeding took place when the Romans planted Gouais Blanc in France, where Pinot Noir already flourished.

Three Facts you probably didn’t know about Chardonnay

• Chardonnay was once known as ‘Pinot Chardonnay’ because of the false belief that it was related to Pinot Noir.
• In California in the early 1940’s there were only around 100 acres dedicated to Chardonnay, today it is a staggering 100,000!
• The Paris Wine Tasting of 1976 also known as the ‘Judgment of Paris’ dramatically increased the profile of Californian Chardonnay. As wine experts believed that French wines were superior, but the blind wine tasters actually preferred the Californian wines much to the shock of the wine world.

New World Varietals

Chardonnay is an incredibly versatile grape; it adapts well to a wide range of climates and is grown in almost every wine producing country in the world. This versatility has allowed it to spread throughout Europe and the New World alike, flourishing in Australia, California and New Zealand. So the variety that is offered by Chardonnay producers is unparalleled by any other. Although Chardonnay can grow quality grapes in a vast array of soils and conditions, it is believed that soils with high concentrates of clay, limestone and chalk provide the best flavour, like the soils that are used for our Italian, Californian and Australian Chardonnay.

Winemakers favourite

The grape is versatile not just in the conditions which it can grow but also with the wine making methods with which it can be used. The versatility of the grape allows a diverse profile of wine styles to be produced from Chardonnay. These flavours can range from crisp green apples, mineral, citrus, pears to tropical fruits.

Great for Food Pairing

Chardonnay is a great wine for food pairings, which goes some way to explain its popularity for restaurants and domestic use. Because of the wines wide variety of styles, feel in the mouth, variety of textures, sweetness and acidity, there is a wide variety of foods and cuisines that pair well with the wine. The wine can pair with a vast array of foods ranging from; shellfish, steamed fish, to cream-based sauces.

Premier Estates Wine Range

Californian Chardonnay

Our triple award-winning Californian Chardonnay is sourced from our producer in Sonoma County. The region stretches from the pacific coast in the western extremity to the Mayacamas Mountains in the east. Areas of the region such as the Russian River Valley are cooled by the Pacific fog and breezes which provide perfect growing conditions for our Chardonnay.                                            

It has a pale straw colour and has a crisp taste with juicy fruits, with hints of melon, butterscotch and a refreshingly creamy vanilla finish. This well balanced Chardonnay is well suited to delicate food such as shellfish, steamed fish, chicken or pasta with spring vegetables.

Australian Chardonnay

Our 4 time award-winning Australian Chardonnay is tropical and smooth due to its coastal growing climate which allows cooling sea breezes to nurture the grape. It has flashes of acidity which rounds off to a lengthy finish reflecting the complexity of the blend. Its fruitiness makes it a great match with fish, turkey and light cream-based sauces.

Italian Chardonnay

Our Italian Chardonnay is made using grapes from the Veneto region of North Eastern Italy, ensuring that the finest quality grapes are used providing a lively peachy fruit favour making it a versatile companion to poultry and pork, to shellfish and white fish.

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