Chardonnay

Chardonnay is the most popular white wine grape grown throughout the world.  The most prized Chardonnay growing regions are Burgundy, Champagne and California.  The Chardonnays of Burgundy tend to produce dry, elegant wines wit ... Read More »

Chardonnay

Chardonnay is the most popular white wine grape grown throughout the world.  The most prized Chardonnay growing regions are Burgundy, Champagne and California.  The Chardonnays of Burgundy tend to produce dry, elegant wines with vibrant acidity and minerality; little or no oak is imparted into the wine for these "Old World" beauties and allows the essence of the Chardonnay grape to reveal itself.   On the other hand, the New World Chardonnay producers of California (Oregon, South Africa, Argentina and New Zealand as well) tend to use new oak.  These wines are often described as being "buttery" given their oak influence.  Some Italian Chardonnays fall somewhere in between Old and New World. They too tend to be quite expressive and retain some of the best qualities of both Old and New World Chardonnays. 

Chardonnay's weight and texture can be very different depending on the terroir and amount of oak used.  Sometimes the oak is new and sometimes, in the case of Burgundy, the oak is used.  If oak casks have been used, they impart less of an influence on the Chardonnay grapes.  These wines tend to have mild oak notes in the wine and can often represent itself as roasted nut flavors.  Yet no matter where Chardonnay is grown, there are some common threads that reveal themselves:  apple, pear, honey, lemon and butterscotch.   

Oregon

Oregon is recognized as one of the premier wine growing regions in the world.  It is best known for its world-class Pinot Noir, grown predominantly in the Willamette Valley.  There, Pinot Noir tends to take a bit of Burgundy's and California's best attributes:  a bit of the dry, mineral ... Read More »

Oregon

Oregon is recognized as one of the premier wine growing regions in the world.  It is best known for its world-class Pinot Noir, grown predominantly in the Willamette Valley.  There, Pinot Noir tends to take a bit of Burgundy's and California's best attributes:  a bit of the dry, mineral driven notes of Burgundy with the ripe cherry and spice flavors of California.  Neither overpowering the other, Oregon Pinots are recognized as some of the finest being produced today.  

In addition to Pinot Noir, Oregon produces excellent whites such as Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris and even Gewürztraminer.