With a turbulent past, the term Pinot Noir Chardonnay is now the name used to describe what was once formally known as Champagne. With the European Union protecting the rights of wine producing regions, including the region in France known as, Champagne, (and rightly so), sparkling wine is also commonly called a Pinot Chardonnay, based on the fact that a sparkling wine is produced from these two grape varieties.
Besides the name, nothing much has changed in the way of taste and texture and the wines themselves are still as exciting and enjoyable as Champagne. Needless to say that most Pinot Chardonnays are produced using the same methods as its French counterparts.
Even well known champagne distributors like Moet and Chandon have a few hidden Pinot Chardonnay gems hidden amongst their lists. Some are produced in a fine estate in the prestigious wine growing area of the Yarra Valley of Australia.
New Zealand has also carved a reputation for producing some great ‘Sparklers’ with many originating from the North Island.
The experimentation with various grape types has lead to some great successes (and failures) Semillon Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz, in fact, most of the red variety grapes combine well. There is a good reason that you don’t find a Sauvignon Blanc Chardonnay. But the mix of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with the sparkling fermentation process has been a tremendous success.
The Pinot Chardonnay series has proven to be very popular for social events like picnics, BBQ’s and wine bars, which is why they are commonly distributed in 200ml and 375ml sizes. Packaging and delivery of sparking varieties is also easy thanks to the advancements of technology in these areas over the years.
As icing on the cake, Pinot Chardonnays are also much cheaper than their French champagne competitors, delivering the same great taste at a fraction of the price.
Surprise your friends this weekend and set up a blind taste test and see if they can spot the difference!
Follow the link for more information on Pinot Noir Chardonnay.
Filed under Wine by 
There is an enormous variety of wines out there. If you’re interested in learning more about pairing wines with your meals, then you’ll probably want to start with the popular wine varieties before delving into some of the lesser known varieties.
Oh, and before we get started, if you love to try new wines, then you can’t go wrong with a wine of the month club, they’re fun and you’re always expanding your wine palate.
Let’s take a look at some of the more popular wine varieties:
Cabernet Sauvignon
Often abbreviated to the less-than-lovely name ‘cab-sav’, the flavorful cabernet sauvignon is a classic French wine that is one of the most widely recognized red wine varieties.
This well rounded red goes wonderfully with steaks and roasted lamb as well as being delicious on its own.
Merlot
This soft, full bodied red has significantly less tannins than do most other red wines. Merlot is bottled on its own as well as being a part of many red wine blends. Merlot is an excellent wine to pair with chicken and other poultry.
Shiraz
Also known as Syrah, Shiraz is a deep red colored, medium bodied wine whose flavor includes hints of black pepper and berries. This is one of the best wines to go with barbecue as well as many other meat dishes. Shiraz can be aged for a long time and improves well with age.
Shiraz was originally produced from grapes from the Middle Eastern countries although South Australia’s brilliant wine region is now said to produce some of the finest award-winning Shiraz wines in the world.
Served with peppery or mustard-based sauces on spicy, garnished meats, Shiraz is the perfect complimentary red wine.
Grenache
Grenache has a soft taste on its own with a very slight black pepper and plum flavor. It is often blended with Syrah, especially in Spain and France. Grenache also accompanies spicy foods quite well.
Pinot Noir
Pinot noir has a medium to light body, an aroma reminiscent of red and black fruits and floral notes – these become especially pronounced when the wine has been well aged.
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is one of the most popular white wines, being made into a wine in its own right and being a major component of most white blends. These wines tend to have notes of melon and lemon and are generally aged in oak for anywhere up to 3 years. Chardonnay goes well with flavorful fish such as salmon and tuna. Chardonnay is easily one of the most popular white wines anywhere. Traditionally these wonderfully melon flavored wines are allowed to mature in oak barrels for up to 3 years. Chardonnay is ideal served along with salmon.
Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon blanc produces a very flavorful, somewhat acidic wine with gooseberry and lemon flavors. This wine pairs excellently with seafood and grilled vegetables and is wonderful on its own.
Semillon
This classic full-bodied dry French white wine is often misunderstood by people living outside of France or Australia. Often criticized for lacking in intensity, Semillon has a distinctly fruity flavor that is more subtle than some of the ‘heavier’ white wines and so it’s often blended with a Sauvignon Blanc to create a wonderful light drinking wine.
Riesling
Originally a German wine, Riesling is now produced all over the world. These whites have a fruity, floral taste which reminds many of green apple and are made both in sweet varieties and dry. The dry Rieslings go well with spicy dishes.
Now get out there, start trying new wines (join a wine club if there are no vineyards nearby), and enjoy.
Filed under Wine by
Chardonnay grape is the most popular type of white wine, found all over the world.The aroma, taste and flavor of it will, depends on the processing method employed and where it was made. Chardonnay has a variety of different styles and flavors, and remains a major type of grape.As a result of it’s popularity, this fine wine spread all along Europe and other locations of the world such as California and Australia.
As more and more wine makers discovered Chardonnay, the fine wine began to grow quite well in South Africa and other areas as well. With it being a non aroma type wine, oak seems to work very well with it. The richest and most complex are American and French Chardonnay, which are also among the most preferred white wines. Even though it does suffer from fatigue, the flavor and richness of this wine will keep it loved by many for years to come.
Chardonnay originated from the Burgundy and Champagne area of France. Although white Burgundy is a popular wine that is prepared with Aligote, a lesser known grape, the fact remains that white Burgundy can’t be made without the use of Chardonnay grape. What this goes to show, is that Chardonnay grapes have more than a few uses.
In appearance, Chardonnay grapesare green in color with thin skins. The grape is a result of the Pinot and Croatian Blanc grape, which are extinct to this day. Chardonnay on the other hand is still popular, fermented and aged using oak barrels that help to bring out the vanilla flavor the wine is well known for. It can also be aged and fermented using bottles, although it won’t age quite as much as red wine.
Almost all Chardonnay wines are considered to be chilled, making them work extremely well with dishes that contain butter and cheeses.It makes them work well with the seafood, as the wines also have less acid content too. There are a lot of food that you can pair Chardonnay with, which is what makes it so popular. A lot of fine restaurants serve it as well, especially Italian and seafood restaurants.
The Chardonnay grape can also be used in making Champagne and other types of sparkling wines. Although Chardonnay wine is the most popular use, there are several other uses for the grape that lead to some truly fine wines. Oak is often times used with the wine as well, which provides it with some great flavors as it ages. Although it can be a bit on the expensive side, it still remains one of the most preferred types of wine. You can find it at any wine or alcohol store – making it a great addition to your wine or drink collection.
Filed under Wine by
