If you’d like a wide variety of high-quality Chardonnay selections to buy in Grand Cayman, choose Jacques Scott Wines & Spirits. We prioritize service and offer an outstanding array of beers, wines, and spirits online or at seven different brick-and-mortar locations throughout the island.
What to Know When Selecting Chardonnay
Developed all over the world, Chardonnay is a white wine with a diverse range of features, largely dependent on the region of production. The variety of Chardonnays available speaks to drinkers of all preferences, explaining its broad popularity.
The Chardonnay grape provides winemakers with an ideal medium for various flavor expressions, but overall, Chardonnay will usually have the following features:
- Dry
- Medium-full body
- Moderate acidity
- Moderate alcohol content
- Flavor range – apple, lemon, papaya, citrus, and notes of vanilla if oak-aged
Chardonnay Flavors
The main flavors of Chardonnay vary widely, depending on the time of harvest and the climate of the region where the wine is made. Cooler climates produce more citrusy Chardonnays, and warmer climates with delayed harvests have more sugar and less acid, leading to richer fruity flavors.
Notes that result from the processes of wine-making vary as well. If Chardonnays are oak-aged, the flavors expressed may include baking spices, vanilla, and coconut.
Diacetyl comes from malolactic fermentation, MLF, and provides wine with a buttery flavor. Winemakers can increase these notes by adjusting the bacteria used during fermentation.
Chardonnay’s Popularity
Chardonnay’s production began in Burgundy hundreds of years ago, and France continues to be a primary source for the best Chardonnays produced and is one of the foundational grapes for Champagne production.
Of Californian wines, Chardonnay is the most commonly planted green grape used for production of white wine.
Oaked versus Unoaked Chardonnay
When a Chardonnay’s label displays oaked or unoaked, it refers to how the wine has been aged.
Oaked – aged in oak barrels, this type of Chardonnay also undergoes a degree of malolactic fermentation and contact with the lees leftover from fermentation. The result is the creamy, round body and vanilla, nutmeg, and other baking spice flavors.
Unoaked – fermented and stored in stainless steel, these Chardonnays have a fresh, crisp, and bright flavor.
Calorie and Carb Count for Chardonnay
Chardonnay is usually served in 5 oz. portions, which has 120 calories and between 0-4 grams of carbs.
Chardonnay Serving Suggestions
Chardonnay is best served chilled – neither too warm nor too cold. The sweet spot is between 50-55°F. Prepare your chilled Chardonnay by placing in an ice bath for half an hour or in the fridge for a couple of hours.
Unfinished Chardonnay? Recork it and refrigerate for up to four days, at which time, the Chardonnay should transform from drinking wine to cooking wine.
Pairing Food and Chardonnay
You can probably guess that with the varied flavors of Chardonnay, meal pairings are just as diverse. Unoaked, crisp Chardonnay is an excellent pre-dinner drink or a great pairing for charcuterie and light shellfish dishes while medium-bodied Chardonnays can handle poultry, fish, and hard cheese. Oaky Chardonnay can then be paired with creamy sauces, fattier meats, and other heavy fare.
Click here to find the best Chardonnay selections available to buy in Grand Cayman. Jacques Scott Wines & Spirits offers top-tier brands of wines, beer, and liquor for all preferences and budgets through our online store or seven physical locations.
