Like peanut butter and jelly or Beyoncé and Jay-Z, white wine and summertime are a perfect combination.

One of the most versatile and popular white wines is Chardonnay.

Chardonnay has two primary flavor profiles.  The classic Chardonnay is an oak aged wine that’s as smooth as butter in a glass.  If you prefer flavor along the lines of Pinot Grigio, you will love the un-oaked varieties of Chardonnay.  In addition to ageing the grapes with or without oak, the ripeness of grapes used to make Chardonnay can add a huge variety to the flavor profile.  The more ripe the grapes, the more your Chardonnay will taste of rich tropical fruits such as pineapple, mango, and guava.  If you are drinking a Chardonnay made with less ripe grapes you’ll be able to appreciate the bright flavors of lemon and green apples.

 

Most un-oaked comes from wine regions with a cooler climate such as:

Western Australia
Oregon
Casablanca Valley, Chile
Sonoma, California
 

Oaked Chardonnays tend to come from regions with a warmer climate such as:

Argentina
Burgundy, France
Southern Australia
Puglia, Italy
Using these two different aging techniques, Chardonnay has a great variety of flavors within its taste profile.  Some of the more common flavors detectable in a Chardonnay are lemon, apple, pear, pineapple, peach and fig. Some less familiar flavors contained in Chardonnay are lemon zest, celery leaf, honeysuckle, and vanilla bean.  When a Chardonnay is oaked, it can take on additional flavors of butter, caramelized sugar, crème brulee, dill, and coconut.

With such complex and varied flavors available in Chardonnay, it can pair deliciously with many foods.  It is wonderful with semi-soft mild goat and cow’s milk cheeses, white meat, and light fish.  Chardonnay flavors pair well with and compliment:

 

Meat Pairing:

Chicken Breast, Turkey Breast, Pork Loin, Halibut, Trout, Cod, Oily Flaky Fish, Lobster, Crab, Scallops, Shrimp, Clams

 

Vegetable Pairing:

Yellow Squash, Peas, Zucchini, Asparagus, White Mushrooms, Chanterelles, Almonds

 

Herb Pairing:

Tarragon, Parsley, Thyme, Lemon Zest, White Pepper, Shallots

 

With such a wide variety of flavors, it’s worth trying as many Chardonnays as possible until you find the one for you. Here at Bill’s Package Store, conveniently located on Fort Campbell Blvd, we have a great selection of Chardonnays. Come in and check out our fantastic wine selection!  Bill’s Package Store is located at 1651 Fort Campbell Blvd. Clarksville, TN 37042. Be sure to visit our Website for Bill’s Package Store Hours and to find out about new products that come in!

Tags: Chardonnay, clarksville, clarksville tn, summertime wine, white wine, wine pairing