Chardonnay is Australia’s favourite white wine for a reason! It has such a versatile grape variety, presenting differently across regions, climates as well as the fermentation process. Grown in a warm climate, grapes will have tropical fruit characters with less acidity, whereas when grown in a cooler climate grapes tend to produce more citrus and mineral characters. Read on as we take a glance at production and its impact on price from Eight at the Gate Wines.

Crisp and Lean

If you enjoy a Pinot Grigio or Savvy B you may might like more of a crisp and lean Chardonnay such as the ones from Chablis. Fermented in a stainless steel tank means they receive no oak treatment, creating a more acid-driven chardonnay. This style of fermentation creates a crisp acidic taste sans the buttery hallmark characteristics of Chardonnay.

Buttery

If you prefer a buttery chardonnay prepare to loosen those purse strings.

The iconic creamy flavour profile is achieved by fermenting the wine in oak barrels undergoing a process called ‘Malolactic Fermentation’. Put simply, malic acid is converted into lactic acid, softening the acidity and bringing a creamy flavour to the palate.

This is where it can get a little expensive. Oak barrels vary in price quite dramatically. An aged tight grain French oak barrel can be over $2,000 a barrel. Typically holding 225 litres to 300 litres, a barrell will yield 300 to 400 bottles tops. Of course these can be reused but the amount of oak characters you get from a barrel after the first use changes.

Think of it like a tea bag. You can reuse a tea bag but the second time you use that tea bag you only get a fraction of the flavour. Therefore the cost to produce a premium barrel fermented chardonnay using new and old barrels is dramatically different.

If you’re keen to learn more then why not add a masterclass to your Good Food & Wine Show experience. Grab a ticket to a wine tasting and pairing masterclasses to level up your wine knowledge! If it’s show off season, check out some of our other blogs to level up you wine game, like the Do’s and Dont’s of Wine Storage.