“You can't beat a nice glass of Chardonnay after a really long, hard day.”
One of the first things that I learned during my wines studies was that Chardonnay is able to perform in all three wine climates (continental, maritime, and Mediterranean). In all of these climates, Chardonnay is able to generate wines with very distinguished profiles.
This is one of the very first reasons why this grape variety originated in Burgundy and now has spread all around the world. Broadly speaking, Chardonnay from continental climates (Burgundy, Columbia Valley, Mendoza subtropical, etc.) develops vivid acidity and salinity which makes it a very suitable choice for barrel and sur-lie aging, with lees stirring.
In maritime climates (California central North, Oregon/Willamette, Chile, Rias Baixas) Chardonnay has the tendency to show a higher fruit intensity, softer salinity, and a fuller body with higher alcohol levels.
Finally, in Mediterranean climates (Sicily, South of Spain, Western Australia/Margaret River, Greek, Napa Valley, and other coastal California wine regions) Chardonnay is much more vivid and expressive with intense fruit (sometimes also tropical), good salinity, and a glossy performance.
