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Chardonnay is the most popular white wine grape variety in Australia, and indeed the world. It is used for best sparkling wines and is considered the king of white wines.

The Chardonnay grape is associated with the wines of Burgundy region of Eastern France. Given its popularity the origins of Chardonnay have been claimed by many regions in the Mediterranean. However modern DNA methods have determined it is a cross between the Pinot grape variety from Burgundy and the obscure Gouias Blanc variety. Gouias Blanc was believed to have been brought to Burgundy form the Balkans by the Romans. It all sounds like bit of an happy accident really.

Chardonnay first came to Australia in 1832 but didn’t gain widespread popularity until the 1950s, notably in the Hunter Valley in NSW.

In France, chardonnay is blended with other varieties to produce the wines that the Burgundy region is renowned for. In Australia, wine is largely produced solely from chardonnay which is a rather neutral grape. Australian chardonnay is characterised by big fruit flavours with richness enhanced by maturation on oak, with a recent trend to lighter wines with more structure.

In the 1990s chardonnay gained enormous popularity such that ordering a glass of white white is synonymous with ordering a chardonanny. Also it became the urban yuppy drink of choice. After a bit of a back lash chardonnay is regaining some of its lost popularity with planting up by 30% in the last few years.

There is such variety in chardonnay styles it is difficult to say if it goes with specific food. Try it with with creamy cheeses like brie. Lighter, less oaky styles suit creamy chicken or pasta dishes or even a mild creamy curry.