Chardonnay and Climate

Did you know? You can tell a lot about the climate where Chardonnay is grown by the aromas and flavors of the wine.

In cool climates, you might get green apple, pear, or citrus, like a Chablis. In moderate climates, you might get stone fruit (like white peach), citrus, and melon. Hotter climates will result in more tropical fruit notes such as peach, banana, and pineapple,  maybe even mango.

So when you browse the Chardonnay aisle at your wine merchant and you don’t recognize the wines, you can get some information about the style of each wine by the region in which it is produced. If you like crisp Chardonnay, you’ll look for wines from cooler climates. If you like Chardonnay that is more lush, you’ll choose wines from a more moderate or warm climate.