Here is a relevant article on where Chardonnay stands today in many consumers minds… I found it interesting mainly because even when Chardonnay is unpopular in the mind of a specific consumer, it is still talked about and never forgotten. For example, it seems that consumers tend to compare other white varietals a lot of times to Chardonnay even if it’s not a wine that they drink anymore. It forever stays in the mind of the consumer…
Chardonnay vines thrive in most wine producing regions around the world due to their ability to adapt to various soils, weather and cultivation practices. The grape itself is delicate and is easily influenced by winemaking techniques and growing conditions. Chardonnay can have a range of flavors, from the typical California style that boasts flavors of butter and oak, to the un-oaked, where crisp flavors of green apple and citrus dominate. Due to the many different styles of Chardonnay, it has enjoyed international fame as both a cocktail wine and a food wine.
In the 1990s, California Chardonnay became the most popular white wine in the United States, and wine consumers grew accustomed to the rich, buttery, oaky style of Chardonnay that California winemakers were known to produce.
Over the past few years, with the popularity of Sauvignon Blanc and other crisp white wines, a trend started with white wine aficionados to drink ABC — Anything But Chardonnay. What many failed to realize was it wasn’t the Chardonnay grape that they didn’t like, it was the heavy, buttery flavors that the oak barrels impart to the wine. Winemakers responded to this trend, and many California producers began to use less oak in their winemaking, and white wine drinkers began to rediscover the world of Chardonnay.
As a wine drinker, I have been enjoying rediscovering Chardonnay. I was never a fan of heavy, over-the-top, oaky Chardonnay. I understood the popularity, appreciated the style, and tasted as many as I could to keep informed, but I wasn’t one to drink that specific style of Chardonnay. I like Chardonnay that has a hint of oak, but not enough to make the wine heavy and rich… Full Article
So, whether or not Chardonnay is a favorite or not so favorite wine of yours, make sure that you at least try a few different styles before you give up.
Joanie Hudson, Director National and International Marketing
Santa Barbara Winery/Lafond Winery & Vineyards
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