October 2, 2025 Plume Ridge Bottle Shop

5 Tips For Choosing a Chardonnay

Here are 5 tips for choosing a Chardonnay that matches different tastes and occasions:

1. Decide on Style – If you like crisp, refreshing wines, look for unoaked Chardonnays (often labeled “Chablis” in France or “unoaked” in California). For richer, creamier wines, choose oaked versions from regions like Napa, Sonoma, or Burgundy’s Meursault.

2. Check the Region – Cool-climate regions (e.g., Chablis, Oregon, coastal Chile) tend to produce leaner, citrus-driven styles. Warm climates (e.g., California, Australia, Southern France) give fuller-bodied, tropical-fruited Chardonnays.

3. Look for Winemaking Cues – Terms like “barrel-fermented,” “aged on lees,” or “malolactic fermentation” usually indicate a rounder, buttery, nutty style. Wines aged in stainless steel are fresher and more fruit-forward.

4. Match It to the Meal – Crisp Chardonnays pair well with seafood, salads, and lighter dishes, while richer, oaked Chardonnays complement poultry, creamy pastas, and lobster with butter.

5. Consider Aging Potential – Many everyday Chardonnays are best enjoyed young, but premium bottles from Burgundy or top-tier California producers can age 5–10 years, developing honeyed, nutty complexity.

Contributed by Blake Leland, Sommelier for Plume Ridge Bottle Shop.