One of the most popular white wines on the market are the Chardonnay wines. You will be surprised by the wide range of Chardonnay wine styles available on the market. It is up to you to find the perfect Chardonnay wine for your taste. The classic style of oak-aged Chardonnay wines is perfect for wine lovers that like the taste of buttery flavours. However, if you prefer the subtle taste of a Pinot Grigio, then you should go with the Chardonnay wines that were not aged in oak barrels. When Chardonnay wines are left to age for a year in oak barrels, they get that crisp and fresh flavours. However, if left to oak age for few years, Chardonnay wines get creamy and have vanilla, spice and oak flavours. Here are few more interesting facts about Chardonnay wines.
- If you are not sure which Chardonnay wine to choose, know that if the wine has been left to age for longer period of time, it will have more tropical fruit flavours like pineapple, guava and mango.
- If you are a fan of more fresh flavours like green apple and lemon, then choose Chardonnay wines that have barely ripped in the oak barrel.
- Make sure you know how to properly serve Chardonnay wine with food. Unoaked Chardonnay wines need to be served at a temperature of 9 ºC, while the oakeed Chardonnay wines should be served at 12 ºC.
- It’s true that Chardonnay wines that are left to oak age have that smell of butter, coconut, vanilla. However, the creamy, oily texture Chardonnay wines have is a result of ceratin fermentation process some winemakers use. After being fermented, some Chardonnay wines undergo a specific Malolactic fermentation process, that smooths the lactic acid and gives even creamier texture. .
- Wine drinkers that enjoy the zesty style of Pinot Grigio, should choose unoaked Chardonnay wines. When compared to Sauvignon Blanc, unoaked Chardonnay wines feature less green and zesty flavours.
- If Chardonnay wines have been produced in a cooler climate, then citrusy flavours will dominate. However, if produced in a warmer climate, then the Chardonnay wines will have more tropical flavours.
- Most oaked Chardonnay wines come from Southern and Eastern Australia, Nappa Valleys, Burgundy France and other popular wine regions that have warmer climate. On the other hand, most unoaked Chardonnay wines come from wine regions that have cooler climate such as Sonoma Coast, California, Western Australia, Chile, etc.
