Do you drink chardonnay cold, or is it better served warm? Chardonnay is a versatile white wine with a wide variety of styles to go with different meals and occasions. If you’re new to wine or just trying to nail a specific wine profile, chardonnay is a great place to start. Chardonnay is a wine of many faces and personalities. While it’s possible to drink a variety of chardonnays cold, the most common way is to serve it slightly chilled and on the fresher side of cool.
Key takeaways
- Serving Chardonnay white wine is best in a bowl shaped glass which is slighly smaller than a burgundy glass
- As most white wines it is served slighly chilled at 8-10°C. Aromatic chardonnay wine should be served at a higher temperature of 10-12 °C to pronounce the flavors
- Unoaked chardonnay wines are served at lower temperature of 8-10°C to pronounce the combination of acidity and fruity flavors
- Oaked Chardonnay wines are often submitted to malolactic fermentation and therefore more aromatic. Therefore it is best served at a higher temperature of 10-12°C
- Chardonnay sparkling wine is served at slightly colder temperatures of 6-8°C
- The Chardonnay grape is the most prominent grape in Champagne production next to Pinot Noir
What Is Chardonnay?
Chardonnay is a white wine grape originating from the appellation of the same name in the Burgundy region of France. You can often find it as a pure wine but it`s also blended with other white or red wine grapes for the production of champagne. Chardonnay grapes aren’t particularly easy to grow, and it can be challenging for growers to keep the vineyards consistently producing high-quality grapes.
The Ideal Temperature To Serve Chardonnay?
It strongly depends on the type of chardonnay. Chardonnay which was fermented in steel tanks has crisp, fruity flavours whereas chardonnay which was fermented in oak barrels has an oaky note. These varying notes and flavrous require a different drinking temperature.
Chilling a chardonnay white wines can make them crisper and more tart, but it can also ruin the wine’s subtle aromas. You want to serve the crisp, fruity chardonnays at 10-12°C/50-54 F to balance the aromas perfectly. If you like oaky chardonnays serve them at a temperature of 12-14°C/54-58 F to underline the characteristic aroma.
Chardonnay sparkling wines should be served chilled at 6-8 °C to underline the combination of the fruity, green apple chardonnay taste.
The fastest way to chill chardonnay is to put it in an ice bucket. It takes 10-15 minutes to reach the ideal drinking temperature. If you put it to cool in a fridge it takes 2,5 to 3 h to reach a temperature of 10-12°C/50-54 F.
Before pouring the wine take it out of the fridge. Let the opened bottle rest a room temperature for 10-15 minutes to let the flavours develop.
When is the Best Time to Drink Chardonnay?
If you’re drinking chardonnay cold, it’s best to do it during the warmer months. Summer is the best time to drink chardonnay because in summer it’s the freshest. Especially if you like the fruitier variants. Chardonnay with oaky flavours harmonizes best with lower outside temperatures as cooling it too much will accentuate the acid notes which don`t go well with the oaky aroma.
Chardonnay based sparkling wine can be enjoyed all year long as you can cool them easily to match to the outside temperature.
How to serve Chardonnay at the perfect temperature?
Serve slightly chilled: You can serve chardonnay at around 10-12°C/50-54 F. It’s best to drink oaked chardonnay wine slightly chilled 12-14°C/54-58 F. If you’re not sure of the right temperature consider referring to the wine label which indicates the ideal serving temperature.
What glass should Chardonnay be served in?
When it comes to serving Chardonnay, the choice of glassware can greatly impact the tasting experience. While many opt for a traditional white wine glass, some experts suggest using a glass with a larger bowl, such as a Pinot Noir or Burgundy glass. The wider bowl allows for more surface area contact with the wine, enhancing its aromas and flavors.
How To Serve And Match Chardonnay?
Sweet wines can be paired with simple foods like cheeses and crackers, while dry wines can be paired with more complex foods like steak and fish. It’s important to remember that Chardonnay grapes aren’t particularly easy to grow, and it can be challenging for growers to keep the vineyards consistently producing high-quality grapes.
Wines Similar to Chardonnay wine taste
Do you like unoaked chardonnay? As unoaked chardonnay tastes different to oaked chardonnay wine recommendations differ strongly. White wines which are similar to unoaked chardonnay which was not submitted to malolactic fermentation are sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio as they share the green apple aroma of chardonnay.
If you prefer oaked chardonnay we recomment light bodied reds as Pinot Noir or orange wine. Due to modern winemaking techniques some orange wines are very tannic which can mimic the oak character.
How to Taste and Smell Chardonnay
You can smell the wine when you taste it, so you don’t have to remove it from the glass or bottle. Open the bottle and smell the wine before you taste it. Take a small sip and then place your nose back in the wine, swishing it around and inhaling the aromas.
Taste: Place the tip of your tongue against the roof of your mouth, where the taste buds are. Swish the wine around in your mouth and activate your taste buds. You can also spear the wine with a straw or stirrer and taste it. You can also use a wine pourer to serve wine to guests. The pourer does the work for you and helps keep the sediment from the glass to prevent you from tasting the sediment in the wine
Does Chardonnay Get Better With Age?
The answer to this question depends on the wine. A few factors make a difference in how much flavor of a wine will fade with age. These factors include climate, grape variety, and the harvest date. The quality of the vintage can also make a difference in how much the wine will age. You can get to know the age of the wine by checking the wine bottles and wine cellar. Premium chardonnay wines age well and develop very nice notes and aroma.
Conclusion
Chardonnay is a versatile wine that people of all ages can enjoy. It can be paired with many different foods to enhance the experience and make it more enjoyable. It’s important to remember that it’s not necessarily better than other wines, but it is a good wine that should be enjoyed. Hopefully, by this point, you have the answer to the question; “do you drink chardonnay cold?”
