Celebrating Chardonnay this Summer- Part 1 - Rollers Wine & Spirits, Hilton Head Island, SC

Most wine lovers across the globe have both heard of and tasted a Chardonnay. This is because the Chardonnay grape is one of the most common grapes grown with the intention of winemaking. While it might be incredibly common, a delicious Chardonnay is also widely unappreciated due to its affordability and ease of access. In honor of Chardonnay Day, which is every year on May 26th, we’ve put together this guide for celebrating Chardonnay so you can learn a little bit more about this delicious wine, Old World, and New World vintages, and how to best pair it with food.

Whether you regularly order wine online for delivery or pick up a bottle at your local corner store, make sure you’re celebrating Chardonnay this May!

Chardonnay 101

As we mentioned the Chardonnay grape is one of the most commonly grown across the globe for use in winemaking. The International Organization of Vine and Wine indicates that Chardonnay ranks at number 5 in terms of most commonly planted grapes, due in large part to its adaptability. The Chardonnay grape is able to grow in a wide variety of different soil types and climates, which in turn yields a wide variety of delicious vintages with unique tastes.

The Chardonnay grape rose to fame over a thousand years ago in the 8th century A.D. through in large part the Benedictine and Cistercian monks located in Burgundy France. These monks took great care in the cultivation of the soil and growing plots for the grapes and were also responsible for developing the concept of terroir which is still used today in Burgundy for wine classification.

Old World and New World Chardonnays

When thinking about Old World and New World wines, Burgundy is a great example of an Old World wine region. This is because many of the winemaking techniques used to create delicious Chardonnays were developed here. These include things like barrel aging and fermentation, bâttonage, and lees stirring. Old World regions generally include locations in Europe as winemaking dates back thousands of years in these places. The most ancient of these regions include parts of Georgia and Armenia where the art of winemaking began. New World regions encompass the Americas, Australia, South Africa, and generally the rest of the world.

In terms of taste and flavor, it is common for Old World wines to be lighter-bodied than New World wines, along with earthier flavors and less oak influence. New World wines generally hold riper flavors, a fuller body, and higher alcohol content. When thinking about climate and its impact on wine, the general rule is that a cooler climate will yield Chardonnay with higher acidity and citrus flavor. A moderate climate will yield flavors similar to more fleshy fruits like peach and melon, and warm climates will have notes of tropical fruits such as pineapple.

Order Wine Online & Get Delivery

If you’re looking for either an Old World or New World Chardonnay to try, check out the amazing selection we have at Rollers Wine & Spirits. You can order wine online for delivery or check out one of our locations near you! With over 50 years in the beverage industry, our wine experts make sure to stock only the most delicious vintages. Don’t forget to check out Part 2 of our guide for Celebrating Chardonnay this Summer!