Surprise! Today is International Chardonnay Day which means you need to go get yourself some Chard right now and celebrate! Because of this versatile grape we can get many different wine styles and profiles ranging from rich, buttery wines to crisp, fresh fruit or mineral driven wines and my personal favorite...Champagne! Chardonnay is one of the three main grapes that are used for sparkling production and the only white grape used (the other two are red varietals). If you haven't found a Chard you like I encourage you to keep trying because there are sooooo many ways this grape can be done right.

Varietal Profile of Chardonnay

FRUIT FLAVORS: Lemon, Apple, Pear, Pineapple, Guava

NON FRUIT (herb, spice, flower, mineral, earth, other): Apple Blossom, Lemon Zest, Citrus Peel, Beeswax, Honeysuckle, Wet flint rocks, Saline Solution, Vanilla Bean, Almond, Jasmine

OAK FLAVORS (flavors added with oak aging): Vanilla, Baked Tart, Butter, Pie Crust, Caramelized Sugar, Creme Brulee, Dill, Coconut, Praline

Interesting Chardonnay events coming up:

The Chardonnay Symposium- Pismo Beach, CA May 28-30

The International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration- Niagra, Ontario July 17-19