Chardonnay: This grape can be crisp and mineral-rich. It can also be lush and buttery. Its character depends on where it’s grown and what the winemaker decides to do with the grape. This is why it’s called “the winemaker’s chameleon” (also, the “chicken of wine”).
Wow is this grape well-known. Yes, it’s adaptable and thrives in a lot of climates. You can find it easily. It’s also the California wine that shocked the French by winning a blind tasting in Paris in 1976. That unexpected win started to make American wine more well-respected (in the US and abroad).
With it’s prevalence, you’d think people would be more aware of it’s chameleon-like abilities. Often times people think of Chardonnay as a rich white with buttery notes, which is a well-established California style. Washington Chardonnays tend more to the juicy and fresh, and away from the buttery style. They are a great wine to pair with food, and to enjoy summer or winter.
Chardonnay is the third largest grape varietal in Washington with 22,149 tons harvested in 2023 (Riesling surpassed Chardonnay in a twist). All that means is you have even more reason to seek out the elegant, balanced Chardonnays from Washington. We plan to have a steady rotation of them.
Washington wine statistics from the Washington State Wine Commission
About Wine Grapes
Welcome to our glossary. Here we share a bit about wine grapes that we mention on our site and in our social media. Washington has wines representing each grape. There is a lot more to learn, and we encourage you to do as much as you want. Have some fun with learning just enough to enjoy wine more.