Chardonnay from around the globe

Description

Chardonnay is the most successful white grape in the world. We will explore oaked, unoaked, youthful as well as aged versions of the most reknown and beloved of grapes.

Part 1 - Old World

Burgundy is one of the most complex wine regions in the world - we will help unravel its mystery with some deliciously crisp, unoaked, highly mineral Chardonnay thanks to a Chablis  and contrast it with the more opulent, full-bodied, oaked and aged versions from further south from the Cote d'Or and the Maconnais regions of Burgundy. A truly close inspection of this much loved region. 

Fizz is the stuff dreams are made off, and we cannot study the magical Chardonnay grape variety without tasting a sparkling Blanc de Blancs from Burgundy too ... how to get the best from the best!

Part 2 - New World 

Winemakers around the world have attempted to replicate some of the success of Chardonnay in its home vineyards of Burgundy and Champagne. This process has demonstrated that Chardonnay is a profoundly adaptable variety, capable of making a wide range of wine styles in a wide range of countries.

Chardonnay played a huge part in the massive Californian wine boom of the 1970s and 1980s with its fruitier, sweeter version. It is also favoured in Australia in its strong oaked version, and in New Zealand as a fresher, unoaked style. So many countries to visit, so many styles to discover!

Location: Dolphin (Mercure) Hotel - Southampton