Chardonnay
Chardonnay is dry. Very little residual sugar remains in the wine after fermentation. What people often mistake for sweetness is the vanilla and buttery notes from oak aging, and those don’t come from sugar.
Wine by type and region
Four pages closely related to Chardonnay: the shelf it’s on, the region it comes from, the sparkling wine it goes into, and the grape it resembles.
White wine
The entire white wine selection, from bone dry to dessert-wine sweet. Find out what to expect in your glass for each grape.
About white wine →Burgundy
This is where the Chardonnay grape comes from, and it is still one of the most important white grape varieties there.
About Burgundy →
Champagne
Chardonnay is one of the three grapes permitted in Champagne. Blanc de blancs is made exclusively from Chardonnay.
About Champagne →
Sauvignon blanc
A steel-aged Chardonnay tastes quite similar, though Chardonnay is a little fruitier and softer.
About Sauvignon Blanc →A grape from Burgundy, not a region or Champagne
Chardonnay is a grape variety. It is neither Champagne nor a wine region. The grape originally comes from Burgundy in France and is still considered one of the most important white varieties there. Think of well-known white Burgundies such as Meursault, Pouilly-Fuissé and Chablis. Because the grape is hardy, easy to grow and not prone to disease, it is now grown all over the world. Germany, Italy, the United States, South Africa—almost every wine-producing country makes Chardonnay. You can recognize it by its pale yellow color and aromas of tropical fruit, citrus, vanilla and roasted nuts.
Is Chardonnay dry or sweet? Dry. After fermentation, very little residual sugar remains, so the wine is on the dry side. It is a medium- to full-bodied white wine. Oak-aged Chardonnay has fairly low acidity, while unoaked Chardonnay has medium acidity. People often say Chardonnay tastes sweet because of the aging. Chardonnay aged in oak is full of warm flavors such as vanilla, butter and even caramel. This makes the wine fuller and creamier, without adding any sweetness. Especially when paired with the ripe tropical fruit the grape naturally has.
In brief
Six bottles, from steel to oak
The biggest difference with this grape comes down to aging. Steel-aged Chardonnay comes from cooler regions and stays fresh. Most oaked Chardonnay comes from warm wine regions and becomes full-bodied and creamy.
Chablis la Pierrelée
The fresh side of Burgundy. Chablis is known for its minerality, with lemon, green apple and white blossom. No oak is used, and you can taste it in the crisp acidity.
Brocard Burgundy
A white Burgundy from outside Chablis. Fresh, with citrus and pear, and creamy on the palate. At 14 percent, the fullest-bodied bottle in this lineup.
La Palma Chardonnay
One hundred percent Chardonnay, with tropical fruit such as pineapple and banana and a hint of lime. Also peach, yellow apple and roasted hazelnut. Rich, full-bodied and creamy, and at 12 percent, the lightest bottle here.
Tokara Chardonnay
Ripe yellow fruit, apricot, and peach, with a crisp taste and finish. A little oak aging adds something without taking over. That puts it right between steel and oak.
Penfolds Koonunga Hill
Ripe and rounded, with clear oak flavors. The wine spent a few months in small French oak barrels, where it gained depth and a creamy taste.
La Capitana Barrel Reserve
Half of this full, rich wine spends six months in oak barrels. You can taste the vanilla, butter, and toffee, alongside pineapple, papaya, peach, and lemon.
Chardonnay from a steel tank is like a crisp sauvignon blanc, just a little fruitier and softer.
Dry in sugar, full from oak
Tropical fruit & citrus
You can smell and taste tropical fruit, citrus, vanilla, and toasted nuts in chardonnay. Its color is pale yellow. The full-bodied, oaked style has a warm, deep yellow color.
Dry and medium- to full-bodied
A medium- to full-bodied white wine with very little residual sugar after fermentation. That’s why it stays on the dry side. Oak-aged bottles have fairly low acidity. Without oak, the acidity is medium.
Vanilla, butter, and caramel
Oak-aged chardonnay is full of warm flavors like vanilla, butter, and even caramel. Many people perceive that as sweetness, but there’s no sugar behind it. Oak makes chardonnay fuller and creamier, not sweeter.
Flavor profile of an average chardonnay. A steel-aged bottle like Chablis scores higher on crispness, while an oak-aged one scores higher on body; sweetness changes little.
How to pour chardonnay
Chardonnay is best served chilled. How cold depends on the style in the bottle.
Chardonnay temperature, 8 to 12 degrees
Chardonnay is usually best enjoyed between 8 and 12 degrees. A crisp chardonnay like Chablis can be served a little cooler than a full-bodied, oaked one. So a steel-aged bottle is best at around eight degrees, and an oak-aged one at around twelve.
From steel to oak →In a large white wine glass
It’s best to use a large white wine glass and hold it by the stem. That way, your hand won’t warm the wine. Pour white wine to just above the widest part of the bowl. We count on six glasses per bottle.
To the glasses →At the table and beyond
Chardonnay can vary widely in flavor and texture. A light Chardonnay like Chablis pairs well with shellfish thanks to its fresh acidity. Fish and poultry with a light, creamy sauce work well with a round, full-bodied Chardonnay like Mâcon Villages, as do smoked foods. Store an opened bottle sealed in the refrigerator.
More on storage →Cocktails with Chardonnay
Chardonnay itself isn’t used in cocktails. You simply drink it from a glass. But the grape is one of the three permitted in Champagne, which is why these four sparkling cocktails come closest.
Kir Royal
Pour crème de cassis into the glass and gently top up with a dry sparkling wine.
Mimosa
Half orange juice, half bubbles, and nothing else needed.
Bellini
Peach purée at the bottom of the glass, topped with sparkling wine.
French 75
Shake gin, lemon juice, and syrup, then top with bubbles.The right glass for Chardonnay
A large white wine glass lets the aromas come through better. A slimmer glass keeps a chilled bottle cool for longer. These are the glasses we recommend ourselves.
Everything else you wanted to know about Chardonnay
Can’t find your question here? Browse our cocktail recipes or get in touch.
Go to the cocktail recipes →Is Chardonnay dry or sweet?
What is the difference between chardonnay aged in stainless steel and oak?
Is chardonnay the same as champagne?
What is the difference between Chablis and chardonnay?
What temperature should you serve chardonnay at?
What percentage of alcohol does chardonnay contain?
How do you store a bottle of chardonnay?
Buy Chardonnay
Want the bottle delivered straight to your door? Order Chardonnay online from Gall & Gall. Gall & Gall has 112.
Prices as of November 12, 2026, as provided by Gall & Gall. You can check the current price and stock at Gall & Gall. Glazen.nl receives a small commission if you buy something through these links; you pay nothing extra. No 18, no alcohol.
