Mar 09 2010
How to Get the Most From Your Chardonnay
Chardonnay is one of, if not THE, most famous white grape. It has become so well known that even couples are naming their babies after it. But why has it become so popular over the last decade and how can you get the most from it? Read on to find out more.
Types of Chardonnay
There are several distinct styles of Chardonnay – including oaked and unoaked. This often causes confusion amongst wine drinkers who don’t realise that both types taste completely different. In Chablis, in Northern Burgundy, the wines are mostly unoaked and are clean, crisp and minerally, whilst just down the road in the Cote de Beaune, still in Burgundy, the style is big, buttery, creamy, oaky wines. Both types of Chardonnay can command very high prices but are very different wines. Heavily oaked styles from across the water in Australia and America became a tour de force in the 1980s and flooded the market. They peaked in popularity after people became sick of rich buttery woody wine in favour of more austere styles like Sauvignon. New World makers today produce a variety of styles, ranging from lightly-oaked or non-oaked to rich fat oaky food wines.
A Grape of Many Uses
Chardonnay is probably the most versatile grape on the planet and this has helped lead to its popularity today. It can be moulded into a huge variety of styles and is an absolute gem for even the laziest of winemakers. Chardonnay doesn’t taste of much, being a “neutral” grape, but does what it’s told, so tastes of where it is grown and how it was treated. So whether you like your wine oaked, unoaked, full or light bodied, from the Old Word or New, you are certain to come across a Chardonnay that will be to your liking.
Look for the Value
Chardonnay has its roots in Burgundy and although you’ll come across some very fine tasting wines in this part of the world, you’ll find yourself paying for the label. If you’d rather buy something that tastes similar but without the price tag try looking to the New World, especially Chile, which produces mouth watering, fruity and clean Chardonnay. Alternatively, if you prefer a more tropical, fruity style, try South Africa and New Zealand.
Don’t Forget Champagne
Chardonnay is one of three grapes, along with Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, which can be used to make Champagne. So if you fancy splashing out for a special occasion, stock up on bottle or two.
Great With Food
Chardonnay is a great wine to drink with food. If you are looking for something to team with your roast chicken, an oaked Chardonnay will work a treat. The body and oak in the wine is a good match for the creaminess of the chicken. Unoaked and lighter bodied Chardonnays always taste good with fish, chicken salad, or, simply, as an aperitif.
Find Out For Yourself
Chardonnay has received quite a lot of bad press in recent years. Wine drinkers who’ve become fed up with the grape have invented the phrase “Anything But Chardonnay”. But before you write off the grape, spare a moment to get to know it better. Chardonnay is one of the most versatile grapes around and makes everything from everyday drinking wine to some of the world’s most exclusive and prestigious whites.
Louise Truswell
http://www.articlesbase.com/food-and-beverage-articles/how-to-get-the-most-from-your-chardonnay-715950.html
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True (Possibly!?) Facts to amaze your friends?
(un)True Facts to amaze your friends
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The Battle of Hastings was actually won by the Sioux nation
King George IV of England reigned for 238 years and was succeeded by his canary
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The square root of 1999 is 666.
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Women have big sharp teeth up there
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Given adequate training, a tapeworm can learn to respond to as many as 12 simple verbal commands
"Loch Ness" actually means "Ice Cream" in Gaelic
Human hair grows as much as 8 inches a night
Columbus was not the first European to discover America. That honour went to Roger de Coursey and his "cheeky" bear, Nookie
Television pictures are transmitted to your home by magic
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The largest bird in the world is the giraffe
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Adolph Hitler’s real name was Ernie Crackerjack
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Princess Diana was killed by a hedgehog
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93% of all the fossilised dinosaur remains ever discovered were found in one back garden in Swindon.
The hardest substance known to man is cork
The cat’s ability to always land on its feet is due to it having four hidden "mini-feet" on its back.
The so-called "Hundred Year War" actually only lasted three days
Women can only be impregnated on a Saturday night
The cold germ can only enter the human body through the sole of the foot
This is the 50th true fact on this page
Stop drinking coffee.
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try and behave yourself I dont want to have to tell you again
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you must have been really bored
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Many thanks for these little-known gems. I feel much better now – certainly wiser.
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Student
I’m impressed and amazed!
Did you make up all these "facts" yourself?
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Geddy Lee – Few hard rock bassists have been as influential as Rush’s Geddy Lee. Born Gary Weinrib on July 29, 1953, in Toronto, his parents migrated from Europe to Canada and got his nickname "Geddy" from when his mother would try to pronounce "Gary" in her accent……………………………………………………..
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Yes, I’m gullible
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Yep…….can’t find fault with any of those.
Except maybe the one about Nookie bear. I think you’ll find it was actually Fred Dineage.
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What amazes me is how wrong you are. Truly a sad situation…
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