Chardonnay
The Chardonnay is grown worldwide, has high demands on the site and loves calcareous and deep soils.
Cultivation
Chardonnay, like Riesling or Pinot Blanc, makes high demands on the site. Calcareous, warm and deep soils are ideal for this grape variety. It is not very susceptible to diseases. However, the thin berry skins favor the formation of botrytis (noble rot). The Chardonnay, like the White Burgundy, is harvested just before the Riesling.
Place value
Chardonnay is one of the five most cultivated vines in the world and therefore very popular. Approximately 200,000 hectares are planted with this grape variety around the world. The planting of Chardonnay has been permitted in Rheinhessen since 1991. Not only worldwide, but also in Rheinhessen and thus also in Harxheim, the cultivation of Chardonnay has increased in recent years. In Rheinhessen, 955 ha* (3.5%) of the cultivated area (as of 2021) are planted with Chardonnay, with an upward trend. In Harxheim, the proportion of Chardonnay vines has more than doubled since 2011. Here, 3.4 ha* (4.4%) of the cultivated area are currently planted with this grape variety.
Chardonnay
Image source: 57725358 – stock.adobe.com
History
Around the turn of the last millennium, the success story of this grape variety started in Germany. Originally, the Chardonnay comes from Burgundy. The village of Chardonnay is a small commune whose name was derived from the wordchardon (French for thistle). The vines Pinot and Heunisch (Gouais Blanc) were crossed with each other. Which Pinot (Burgundy) was ultimately used for this purpose is not exactly clear, as the genetic differences between Pinot Gris (Grey Burgundy) Pinot Blanc (White Burgundy) and Pinot Noir (Pinot Noir) are very small. The name of the grape variety was established at a wine exhibition in Lyon, France, in 1872.
Vinification
Chardonnay wines are often vinified dry. The majority matures in a stainless steel tank. High quality wines are also placed and aged in barrique barrels. Chardonnay is gaining more and more popularity as a base wine for sparkling wine production.
Pleasure
The typical aromas for this grape variety are overripe gooseberries, exotic fruits and melons, but also not quite ripe apples. When aged in wooden barrels, these fruit aromas are complemented by subtle vanilla aromas, which come from the wooden barrel. Wines that are still young and light go very well with fish and seafood. If they are to be served with roasted food or a hearty cheese, the wood-driven Chardonnays are the better option.
As of 30.12.2022: Rheinhessenwein e. V. 2022 White grape varieties Chardonnay https://www.rheinhessen.de/chardonnay
Wikipedia Chardonnay 2022, https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chardonnay
German Wine Institute 2022 White grape varieties Chardonnay https://www.deutscheweine.de/wissen/rebsorten/weisse-rebsorten/chardonnay/
