Chardonnay is among the world’s most popular white wines. So popular, in fact, that we celebrate National Chardonnay Day each year on May 24th.

Paired with food or all on its own, Chardonnay is a great wine 12 months a year. While heavier reds can be tough in the heat of summer, Chardonnay knows no season. As comfortable with grilled chicken at a BBQ or turkey at Thanksgiving, Chardonnay is a wine for all seasons and all reasons.

Chardonnay is one of the few whites that actually gets better with age, in fact some Chardonnays won’t reach their peak of flavor for five to eight years after bottling.

But, one of the things that really gets people going about Chardonnay is its “dual-personality” — some chardonnays are crisp, fruity and bright, while others are creamy, buttery and oaky. It’s like they are two entirely different wines. But they’re both Chardonnay. Interesting, right?

Simply put, it’s all in how it’s aged. During the fermentation process, essential to all wines, the barrel that the wine is fermented in has a huge impact on the flavor of the wine.

Steel-aged Chardonnays tend to be fruiter, with lots of bright apple and citrus flavors. You’ll find many European Chardonnays are steel-aged, but there’s one from California that we really like and there’s not a hint of oak in it (not even in its name): Tolosa No Oak Chardonnay.

American Chardonnays are almost exclusively oaked and usually have a rich creaminess their European counterparts do not. Oak-aged Chardonnays are less fruit-forward, and are often described as “buttery.” Some oaked Chardonnays are aged elsewhere and then stored in oak barrels, resulting in a wine that is less oaky than those that are both aged and fermented in oak barrels.

Nothing makes us happier than a “butter bomb” chardonnay and one of our absolute favorites is California Wine Project Chardonnay. It’s smooth, creamy, imminently satisfying and did we mention it’s just $10 a bottle! Don’t miss it!

Whether you like your Chardonnay with or without oak, be sure to have your favorite bottle ready to toast on National Chardonnay Day! 

Cheers!