Not a Fan of Chardonnay? Why You Might Love Chablis Instead

What is Chardonnay?

Chardonnay is a grape variety that makes a white wine. It originated in the Burgundy region of France and has become widely grown in many wine-producing regions across the world, including California, Australia, and New Zealand. That’s because of its diversity in flavour, and in particular its broad use in both still and sparkling wines, especially champagne.

As for its flavours, it can range from citrusy such as pineapple, to almost baking tastes – think butter or vanilla. This variety of tastes can depend on the location, which is one of the reasons you may like a chardonnay wine from one country and not another. And the winemaker of course has a say in it too. To oak, or not to oak? That is a very real chardonnay question!

Where is Chardonnay Grown?

Many countries grow chardonnay grapes, but primarily it’s France, USA (particularly the Napa Valley in California), Australia, and New Zealand. In other words, one old world and three new worlds when it comes to wine. This is important to note as it plays a big part in that oaky flavour many people don’t like.

A common reason people dislike chardonnay wines are the ‘oaky’ flavour, which is often a result of oak barrel aging rather than the grape variety itself. However, factors like acidity and sweetness can also affect a person’s preference. And it’s important to realise this, as many grape varieties and thus wines may be fermented or aged in oak barrels, which can impart that oak flavour.

Why Do Some Chardonnay Wines Taste Oaky?

Winemakers choose to ferment and/or age wine in barrels as it tends to soften the wine. But whilst softening it, it also imparts certain flavours. It is these flavours we may associate with the concept of ‘oaky’. Depending on where the oak comes from different flavours may be tasted, such as vanilla, caramel, a creamy taste, sometimes clove, even pepper.

The size and age of the barrel plays a part, too. The larger the barrel the less contact it has with the wine, thus imparting less oaky flavour. The same can be said for their age. New barrels are toasted on the inside. This is what changes the flavours from raw wood to the vanilla and spices we taste. New barrels impart stronger flavours. Barrels may be used many times, and with each use they impart less flavour. By the third use they are deemed neutral in that they impart no additional taste to the wine. Additional uses therefore only soften rather than flavour the wine.

French vs. New World Chardonnay: What’s the Difference?

In many French regions like Chablis, winemakers tend to avoid new oak barrels, which helps maintain a more restrained, mineral style of chardonnay wines. However, in regions like Burgundy, new oak is sometimes used, particularly for premium wines. In other words, they are not big fans of that oaky flavour. It’s one of the main reasons why many people who ‘do not like chardonnay wines’ do like French chardonnay.

Newer world wines, in particular Californa’s Napa Valley, prefer new oak barrels, aiming for that more ‘oaky’ profile. Australian wines will even put oak chips or staves into the wine to increase the oak essence. If you see ‘oak maturation’ or ‘oak influence’ on the label this tells you that the wine has had oak added into the wine during the wine making process.

So, if you are not a fan of oaky chardonnay wine, look towards France for your wines.

What is Chablis? Is It Different from Chardonnay Wine?

And this brings us onto chablis. It is not uncommon to hear ‘I don’t like chardonnay’ but people will often omit that  that they do like chablis. However, they may not know that chablis is a type of chardonnay!

Chablis is both the name of a town in northeastern Burgundy and the wine region that produces chablis wine, which is made exclusively from chardonnay wines. (If you cruise aboard L’Art de Vivre or La Belle Epoque you will have the opportunity to visit it). The town and its surrounding area, or Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC), grows only chardonnay grapes and thus only makes chardonnay wine. Oak barrels are used sparingly in chablis, mainly for aging premier cru and grand cru wines. For the majority of chablis wines, minimal or no oak is used to preserve the purity of the fruit and the minerality. In addition, when oak barrels are used, they are rarely new. This is steeped in history. Historically, chablis wines were transported to Paris in oak barrels, a practice that contributed to the region’s tradition of using older oak barrels rather than new ones. Once empty, the oak barrels returned to chablis to be used again. And thus began a tradition of not using new oak for chablis wines.

(Read more about AOC)

The Role of Terroir in Chardonnay’s Taste

Another factor that plays into the different flavour profiles of chardonnay is ‘terroir’. Terroir refers to the unique combination of soil, climate, topography, and local winemaking traditions in a specific location. This interaction creates the distinctive character and flavour profile of a wine, making it unique to that place. This explains why Chablis’ wine is known by the town name and not the grape variety.

Terroir is the main reason why wines, including chardonnay, from one country or even a specific town, will taste different from wines produced elsewhere. And why you might like a glass of chablis but may not like the taste profile of a chardonnay wine, from the Napa Valley, for example. With so many factors coming together into a wine, it starts to make sense why you may prefer a wine from one place over another.

(Read more about Terroir.)

Do You Actually Like Chardonnay? Let’s Find Out!

We come back to the question now of whether you do or don’t like chardonnay wines, or perhaps any other grape variety. Truly it is about tasting wines of a specific grape from different places and discovering for yourself what you prefer. You may dislike the flavours that new oak impart, or you may love the terroir of a specific location.

We invite you onboard our Burgundy barge cruises to taste and decide if you’re a fan of chardonnay, and why you might just love a chablis instead!