Cheers! Get a discount on the 10 tastiest restaurant Chardonnays with this code
Chardonnay may well be the most famous grape in the world. And remarkably, the best and worst wines in the world are made from this grape. There are also so many different styles. From very crisp Chardonnays to very buttery, oak-aged varieties and everything in between. That often makes choosing difficult. Hence, we’re lending a hand.
Best and worst?
Yep… and that’s because, on the one hand, Chardonnay has very modest grape-specific aromas and is also very easy to grow. And then there’s a third point: Chardonnay is very willing to be shaped according to the winemaker’s wishes. This has earned the grape the rather irreverent nickname ‘the slut’ among grapes; a winemaker can do anything with her, and Chardonnay is happy with everything. The climate (Chardonnay thrives in both cooler and warmer climates), the soil in which it grows, and how it is treated. All this while Chardonnay is also known as the queen of white grapes!
A true queen
Chardonnay is a real celebrity: all the great white wines of Burgundy, the birthplace of Chardonnay, are made from 100% Chardonnay. These have long been the most expensive and sought-after white wines in the world. It’s hardly surprising, then, that winemakers elsewhere began working with this white grape. Chardonnay is good not only for winemakers, but for wine drinkers too! Because this means we can find many different Chardonnays from all over the world.
Difficult to choose
That also makes it very difficult to choose. But one thing is certain: saying you don’t like Chardonnay is roughly the same as saying you don’t like vegetables; there are so many different flavours that there’s always one you’ll enjoy discovering—provided you like (white) wine, of course. Depending on where the wine comes from, and whether it has undergone fermentation and/or ageing in wooden barrels, you can expect a particular style and flavour.
A cool climate produces high acidity and aromas of lemon and green apple. As it gets warmer, the wines become less distinctly fresh, and yellow apple, grapefruit and pear come into play. If it gets even warmer, the acidity drops further and tropical fruit dominates, bringing to mind melon, guava, pineapple, peach and mango. Is oak involved? Then aromas of nuts, vanilla and toast often come more to the fore.
A global wine
Outside Europe, besides France, Chardonnay is also widely planted in Italy, and you’ll find plenty of Chardonnay in California, Australia, Argentina and Chile.
Versatile
Thanks to its diversity of styles, Chardonnay goes very well with food. That’s why Chardonnay appears on virtually every wine list, in every type of restaurant, anywhere in the world. Sommeliers call it ‘versatile’. Lean and crisp styles go beautifully with oysters, such as these oysters with Thai coriander dressing, and other delicacies from the sea (shrimp and prawns); fuller styles work well with rich dishes (cod with beurre blanc sauce, Jamie Oliver’s butter chicken, Gordon Ramsay’s quick spaghetti carbonara; yum!). The medium style pairs well with (grilled) fish dishes, such as Spaghetteria’s linguine alle vongole.
Discount offer
To introduce you to the diversity of Chardonnay, we’ve selected a number of delicious and very affordable sommelier wines. Ten in total, all of which stand out because they’re simply incredibly tasty, whether enjoyed on their own or with food. These Chardonnays aren’t available in supermarkets; they’re wines you would normally find only in the hospitality industry. And now you can enjoy them at home too—with a discount, to boot! You can find the 10 tastiest restaurant Chardonnays with a discount here. An extra bonus: free delivery!
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