White grape variety

Chardonnay

Also called Beaunois, Aubaine, Melon Blanc

Chardonnay is a white grape from Burgundy, France, known for its range from lean, unoaked Chablis to rich, barrel-fermented whites and Blanc de Blancs Champagne. It grows best in cool to moderate climates. DNA work at UC Davis showed it is a cross of Pinot Noir and Gouais Blanc.

Color	White (green-skinned)
Origin	Burgundy, France (a cross of Pinot Noir and Gouais Blanc)
Body	Medium to full
Acidity	Medium to high
Typical aromas	green apple, pear, lemon, peach, melon, butter, hazelnut, flint
Key regions	Burgundy (France), Champagne (France), California (United States), Oregon (United States), Western Australia (Australia), Western Cape (South Africa), Chile, New Zealand

Origin and history

Chardonnay comes from Burgundy in east-central France. DNA fingerprinting at the University of California, Davis, identified it as an offspring of Pinot Noir and Gouais Blanc, a variety that also gave rise to several other French grapes. For centuries it was mostly a Burgundian and Champagne grape, but its spread in the second half of the 20th century made it a global variety. In 1971 Murray Tyrrell released one of the first commercially successful Australian Chardonnays, and in 1976 a Chateau Montelena Chardonnay from California beat white Burgundies in the Judgment of Paris tasting. By 1988 California had more Chardonnay planted than France.

Where it grows

In Burgundy it makes the great whites of the Côte de Beaune, such as Montrachet, Corton-Charlemagne, Meursault and Puligny-Montrachet, as well as Chablis in the north and Pouilly-Fuissé in the Mâconnais. In Champagne it dominates the Côte des Blancs villages of Avize, Cramant and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. Outside France, important sources include Napa Valley, Sonoma Coast, Margaret River, Limarí Valley, Marlborough and Franciacorta in Italy.

Taste, wine styles and food

Chardonnay has a fairly neutral flavour of its own, so climate and winemaking shape the wine more than with aromatic grapes. Cool sites give green apple, pear and citrus with high acidity, as in Chablis, where little or no new oak is used and a flinty note is common. Warmer regions bring peach, melon and tropical fruit. Malolactic fermentation softens the acidity and adds a buttery texture, while oak barrels add toast and hazelnut. It is also a key sparkling wine grape: Champagne labelled Blanc de Blancs is made only from Chardonnay. Lean styles suit oysters and grilled fish; oaked styles match roast chicken, lobster and creamy sauces.

Test yourself: the Chardonnay quiz

Wines made with Chardonnay (78)

WineGuessr lists 78 wines made with Chardonnay, from 16 countries. Most come from France (39).

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Chardonnay: questions and answers

Is Chablis made from Chardonnay?

Yes. Chablis is a white Burgundy made entirely from Chardonnay, usually in a crisp, mineral style with little or no new oak.

What grapes are in Champagne?

Champagne is mostly made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. A Blanc de Blancs Champagne is made only from Chardonnay.

Why does some Chardonnay taste buttery?

The buttery character comes mainly from malolactic fermentation, which converts sharp malic acid into softer lactic acid. Oak aging adds toasty and nutty notes on top.

Where does Chardonnay come from?

Chardonnay comes from Burgundy in France. DNA analysis shows it is a cross between Pinot Noir and Gouais Blanc.

Is white Burgundy Chardonnay?

Almost always. Nearly all white Burgundy, including Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet and Corton-Charlemagne, is made from Chardonnay.

Other white grapes

All grape varieties →

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Last reviewed October 2026.