Growers love it, winemakers adore it, and most of us cannot get enough of it. 21 May 2020 marks International Chardonnay Day and in celebration of this much love grape we bring you five facts about it that you probably did not know.
- While frequently paired with California, its native home lies in the vineyards of Burgundy, France.
- The grape became a global phenomenon in the 1980′s. Because of its exploding popularity, many vineyards started planting Chardonnay vines for a guaranteed profit, especially in California. Thus solidifying a permanent place in wine history.
- Chardonnay is an important component of many sparkling wines around the world, including Champagne.
- Chardonnay remains one of the most widely planted grape varieties, with over 160,000 hectares worldwide, second only to Airén among white wine grapes and planted in more wine regions than any other grape – including Cabernet Sauvignon.
- It’s believed that the leaves of each chardonnay plant have near-identical shape and structure.
