CHARDONNAY IS YUMMY

Chardonnay is really lovely on the palate, and so many people around the world enjoy a glass or two to relax. It has a great flavor with such uniqueness that comes out of its core. Today, Chardonnay is the best-selling wine in America, red or white. Americans consume over 840,000 bottles per year. This drink does best in cool, coastal regions, from Monterey up through the Russian River Valley, and all the way up to Willamette Valley in Oregon (which is where La Cream grapes are grown to make the delicious Chardonnay we have come to love today). There was a famous tasting in 1976 called “Judgment of Paris.” This made California wine an international superstar. Chardonnay achieved its lovely reputation for greatness in the Burgundy region of France over 1200 years ago. Around 800 A.D. the wife of the Emperor Charlemagne, disgusted by the red wine that stained her husband’s white beard, ordered that white grapes be planted in their Burgundy vineyard, which is now called Corton-Charlemagne.

In the 1940’s, there literally wasn’t much Chardonnay planted in California, and a 1941 census showed less than 100 acres statewide. Today, Chardonnay vineyards are planted on more than 100,000 acres. During the 1930’s-1950’s, there was such little Chardonnay around that it was usually labeled “Pinot Chardonnay” because people mistakenly thought it was related to Pinot Noir. Chardonnay is rich with a creamy-smooth mouth feel and exotic flavors with honey-sweet fruit that really makes your palate go wild. If you don’t like flavors of vanilla and toasted oak, make sure to buy an unoaked Chardonnay. If you like steak, then this wonderful drink would be an exquisite match for your meal pairing. There are so many lovely flavors that are waiting to capture your taste buds. Go and explore all that Chardonnay has to offer.