Chardonnay

Synonyms: auvernat blanc, lisant, morillon blanc, noirien blanc, pinot blanc, weiss silber, feinburgunder, weisser ruländer.

The most international of all known white varieties. Widely spread throughout the world and suited to a multitude of climates and soils, although it is particularly well adjusted to cool climates and calcareous soils, and especially to clay-limestone soils.

Coming from the French Burgundy, for many years it has been the most appreciated white grape in the world, although well into the 21st century, its level of popularity has given way to many other grapes, with a boom for the local and native.

The same thing happened to chardonnay as to cabernet sauvignon, its great fame is due to the commercial success achieved by some wineries, particularly in the white wines of Burgundy, although it is also recognised for its powerful presence in legendary champagnes, hits that have echoed all over the world.

Many facets and styles are associated with this grape. It is so versatile that it can appear light, dry, fresh and sharp in one wine and powerful, oily and ripe in another. This grape is said to be very sensitive to the winemaking method to which it is subjected, as it assimilates it quite easily. While this grape is found in almost every vineyard in the world, its highest concentration occurs in Burgundy, Languedoc-Roussillon and Champagne. In Spain there are more than 8,800 hectares registered, mainly located in Catalonia, Castilla la Mancha, Aragon and Navarre.