Chardonnay is a grape variety of French origin, hailing from Burgundy, where the most prized and famous wines are produced, and from there it has spread to become one of the most widely cultivated white grape varieties in the world. Currently, great wines are made from Chardonnay in the most diverse places on the planet: New Zealand, Israel, Australia, California, Chile, Argentina, and not least, Italy. Chardonnay is so popular that it practically has no synonyms (except for Morillon in Styria, Austria). The incredible variety of aromatic components that Chardonnay imparts to wines emerges in different ways depending on the soils and climates where it is grown, making the tasting of its wines always a new experience. Chardonnay can produce good quality wines even when grown with relatively high yields, and with lower yields, wines of great caliber are obtained.

The early budding of Chardonnay puts it at risk of spring frosts, while the thin skin of the berries can favor rot. Therefore, it is crucial to choose the right time for harvesting, as too late a harvest can result in grapes that produce wines with too low acidity levels. Chardonnay is part of the blend of the best classic method sparkling wines in the world and also has great aging potential. Italy boasts a long tradition of cultivating Chardonnay, especially in the subalpine region. Today, it is produced in almost the entire country, and excellent Chardonnays can be found in Piedmont, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Trentino, Valle d’Aosta, Tuscany, and Sicily. Besides classic method sparkling wines, Chardonnay grapes can produce still wines with high alcohol content and rather high acidity. The color of Chardonnay wine is not particularly intense straw yellow, its aroma is characteristic, delicate, and fruity (tropical fruit, especially pineapple), and its taste is elegant and harmonious. Chardonnay wines have a good predisposition for vinification and aging in wood (barriques), with which they assume notes of dried fruit.