In my opinion, Chardonnay is the King of white grapes. The main variety in the production of white Burgundy and where it first gained a following. It is thought to originate in a village by the same name in the Maconnais. However, its versatility and ability to grow in many different climates and soils combined with winemaker influence means that there is a lifetime of exploration available to this variety. Used in sparkling wines as well as still wines Chardonnay is the variety that is hugely malleable for winemakers. Barrel fermentation, secondary malo-lactic ferments, and barrel stirring are all techniques that are used to influence final flavours.
