Chardonnay is one of the most widely planted

best loved white grapes in the world and has

almost become synonymous with white wine.

Burgundy in Northern France is Chardonnay's spiritual home and the best White Burgundies are dry, rich wine with an almost honey undertone with unrivalled elegance and balance. They are unquestionably the finest dry white wines in the world. Elsewhere in France, Chardonnay plays a crucial role in the Champagne blend, providing structure and finesse, and is the sole grape in Blanc de Blancs, but is also a key grape variety in Southern France where winemakers produce single varietal, good value wines.

Just like Cabernet Sauvignon, New World winemakers have taken this Northern Hemisphere grape and made it their own. In warm climates Chardonnay has a tendency to develop very high sugar levels at the expense of acidity. Late picking is a common problem and can result in wines that lack structure and definition. Recently in the New World, there has been a move towards more elegant, better- balanced and less oak-driven Chardonnays, which suit the modern wine drinker much more.