With this little blog let’s get to know the most popular Australian grape variety, Chardonnay a little.
What goes in favour of this variety of grapes as far as our country, Australia is concerned that these grapes can be grown throughout the country. This makes them very popular just like their red buddy- Shiraz. Though Chardonnay grapes grow in most climates, there is a marked difference in the style of wines manufactured by cool climate produce and hot climate produce. The wines manufactured from grapes grown in cool areas of Australia are light, fresh and crisp. In contrast, the wines produced from hot climate Chardonnay grapes range from being medium to full bodied and have toasty hints.
Another thing that is important when Chardonnay is concerned is the use of oak. Maturation in oak barrels gives the wines the oak flavour. Nowadays, many young wine lovers prefer drinking wines matured in stainless steel tanks to avoid the oak. Usually wine merchants mention whether a wine is oaked matured or un-oaked on the bottle. So, depending on your preference, you can pick “oaked” or “un-oaked” Chardonnays.
As mentioned earlier, a diverse variety of Chardonnay wines are available all over Australia. So, it can be challenging for you to pick the right one. In my opinion, if you don’t want to go wrong with your pick, go for a Margaret River Chardonnay. Most of these are viscous, buttery and give out toasty nuances. They are not very heavy but just perfect with enough body and delicious taste. If you do not find a Margaret River Chardonnay with your wine merchant, you can also pick one from Yarra Valley, Adelaide Hills or Mornington Peninsula.
So, go ahead and enjoy a glass of this great Aussie delight with white mushroom sauce pasta and I promise you would be truly delighted.
