Poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning could have been writing about
Chardonnay when she penned her famous Sonnet
43: “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the
depth and breadth and height.”
On 26 May the
whole world will be celebrating that “depth and breadth and height” - because
it will be International Chardonnay Day.
And what’s not to celebrate! Chardonnay is the second most
planted white wine grape in the world and the fifth most planted grape overall.
It is a chameleon among wines. It comes in many flavours and styles and matches
so many types of food.
Party on!
Chardonnay’s endless potential and depth of
character has seen it described as “a red wine masquerading as a white.” From the classic, full bodied, oak-aged Chardonnays to
the lean, minerality of young, un-oaked styles, to the light and zesty blanc de
blancs Champagnes, Chardonnay earns it name as the “king of grapes”.
And if that isn’t enough to inspire the gathering of
friends to celebrate the joys of Chardonnay on 26 May then consider this. On
the flavour and aroma wheel of wine descriptors, its characteristics virtually
populate the whole compass. Chardonnay can exhibit fruit flavours such as
lemon, apple, pear, pineapple, passionfruit, peach, citrus/lemon zest and
fig. Or floral attributes like
honeysuckle, lemon balm, jasmine or apple blossom. It can even be tinged with
almond, butterscotch, creamy, oily and waxy notes. And oak-aged Chardonnays can
delivery further nuances of vanilla, butter, coconut, baked pie crust,
caramelised sugar, crème brûlée and praline
As a French wine
importer, DiscoverVin has recently added wines from Burgundy and Champagne to
its list of exceptional, independent producers from Bordeaux and South West
France.
On International Chardonnay
Day it
will be party time from the birthplace of Chardonnay in Burgundy, France - to
the new world Chardonnays of Australia, New Zealand and the Americas – and
everyone is invited.
To celebrate, DiscoverVin
is singling out its new Chardonnays from Lupé-Cholet in Burgundy – and the
mouth filling Jeeper Grande Reserve blanc de blancs Champagne to be the life of
the party.
