Making its way from France into the homes and hearts of Americans, wine lovers often find themselves having a love-hate relationship with chardonnay. The drink is prepared by green-skinned grapes to make a variety of wines from dry to sparkling. In its own right, chardonnay can be used for any wine and any occasion.
Origins
It has been widely accepted that the origin of the first drink of chardonnay came from Burgundy, France. The green-skinned grape is believed to be a cross between the Pinot noir and the Gouis blanc grape varieties.
But even before France, the grape was thought to have been a product of the Roman expedition which eventually lead to France. The Romans were thought of as being the ones to introduce the Gouais blanc from Croatia into Eastern France.
French peasants already cultivated pinor noit in their fields and might have even used it in vineyards to make wine. With the Gouais blanc being introduced into the same fields, the two grape varieties had the opportunity to breed and produce a genetically distinct variety - the chardonnay.
The Grape
Chardonnay is known to adapt to different conditions and generally being a low-maintenance plant to cultivate. The Chardonnay plant can adapt to any soil. However, the top three are; chalk, clay, and limestone.
While growing, the grape may appear as a problem; with extensive leaf coverage this, in turn, seems to restrict the energy and nutrient uptake for the clusters.
In their ditch attempt to save the plant, vineyard owners resort to prune and canopy management. Chardonnay vines are usually planted as densely as possible, they are forced to compete with other clusters for resources and energy into their grape clusters.
The grape loses acidity as soon as it ripens. Some complications include damage from frost. For which the method developed in Burgundy is used: pruning the plant just before it's about to burst. These delays bursting by two weeks - long enough for warm weather.
Chardonnay in the East Coast
Americans have had a love-hate relationship with Chardonnay. While today it might be regarded as a white chameleon of sorts in the world of winemaking, it was considered unfashionable by many for a long time.
Back in the 1980s, the wine was one of America's most sought after wines. However, just as soon as it began to get recognized, it was dismissed as the butt of all jokes. This was until the 2010's when it was reintroduced as a classic.
Today, vineyards all across the country adorn their fields with the green-skinned grape variety and make a profit off of it. Chardonnay has a strong, yet subtle flavor of oak and butter. Although modern variants aim at different pairing to make it go well with all sorts of food.
1. Villa Maria Wines2. Nobilo Wines3. Douglas Wine ; Spirits4. Liquor Barn5. King Crawford6. Five FlaxSeveral online agencies aim at delivering the perfect bottle of chardonnay right at your doorstep. Say,
alcohol delivery Los Angeles? That's possible.In America, Chardonnay is found in multiple regions, predominantly in California. It is the dominant white wine variety of the area, overtaking Riesling. The drink is found most notably in California, Massachusetts, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and Tennessee.
Conclusion
Chardonnay is a green-skinned grape that can be used to make a variety of different wines from dry to sparkling. The grape was first found in Burgundy, France. Today, it can be found all across the globe. One thing’s for sure, Americans have overcome their prejudices towards the humble fruit and reintroduced it as a classic pairing for all festivities and meals.