Yes, Chardonnay is Classy!

From Chablis to Chile, 10 Elegant Chardonnay Wines

Chardonnay grapes at Ferrari in Trento. I took this photo in 2019. I even harvested some grapes!

Go to enough wine tastings, and you’ll hear it all. But I’ll never forget the moment when a self-described sophisticate loudly exclaimed they would never serve Chardonnay to guests because “it’s not classy.” Really? I could not let such slander go unchecked and delivered a passionate defense of Chardonnay. Had they never sipped white Burgundy? Or a steely glass of Chablis? What about a Blanc de Blancs sparkling wine? Had they never tried Chardonnay from Oregon, Napa, Argentina, Chile, Piedmont, and a long list of regions producing stellar wines from one of the world’s most widely planted grape varieties? They had not.

Further probing revealed that most of their Chardonnay experience was limited to mass-production wines. They mistakenly thought that all Chardonnay was made in that insipid style. And I’ve come to realize that they were not alone in that misguided assumption: many drinkers will dismiss an entire category of wines based on one unsatisfactory tasting experience.

So, here’s my list of ten undeniably classy Chardonnay wines in various styles, ranging in price from $23 to $370. There’s bound to be a match for you.

Aslina Chardonnay 2022, Western Cape, South Africa, $23

Winemaker Ntsiki Biyela knocks it out of the park with this juicy and tropical Chardonnay. A kiss of oak adds complexity without overwhelming the vibrant fruit and acidity. Last year, I interviewed Ntsiki for Food & Wine magazine and was so inspired by her journey to becoming one of South Africa’s leading winemakers.

Catena Alta Chardonnay 2021, Mendoza, Argentina, $35

The Catena family put Malbec from Mendoza on the map, but don’t overlook the excellent Chardonnay wines in their portfolio. Catena’s passion, precision, and attention to terroir are apparent in this elegant wine. The grapes were sourced from high-altitude vineyards that soar almost 5,000 feet in the Andean foothills. Aged in French oak for 14 months, the time on the lees adds a delectable creaminess that rounds out the ripe fruit and minerality.

Domaine du Cellier aux Moines, Les Chaumées, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru, Burgundy, France, ($165)

Last year, a friend sent me a bottle of the 2019 Les Chaumées pictured above, and I wrote her the next day to tell her how gorgeous it was -- ooh la la! Sometimes, just looking at a bottle of Burgundy can feel intimidating — especially for those of us who don't speak French. But the first sip of this excellent Chardonnay washed away my linguistic insecurities. It's a welcoming wine - rich, layered, and full of life. I tasted the 2019, and it was aging beautifully. Newer vintages are on the market, and based on my experience tasting numerous wines from Domaine du Cellier aux Moines, there will be vintage variation (as there should be), but the quality is consistent. Founded in 1130 by Cistercian monks, Domaine du Cellier aux Moines has a rich history and makes elegant and exciting wines. (Click here to watch my 2020 Instagram Live interview with winery owner, Philippe Pascal.)

Ferrari Brut Trentodoc, Trento, Italy, $30

This bubbly has frequently appeared in my writing, most recently in my holiday pairing guide for Food & Wine. It is truly a personal favorite, and in 2019, I had the pleasure of visiting Ferrari’s stunning vineyards. 100% Chardonnay, this traditional method sparkling wine from the mountains of Italy, is consistently elegant and balanced. It is fresh and lively with that classic hint of bread crust, an alluring signature of Méthode Champenoise wines.

GAJA, Gaia & Rey 2021, Langhe, Piedmont, Italy, $370

GAJA may be best known for their regal Barolo and Barbaresco, which is made from the native Piemontese grape, Nebbiolo. But the family has always had an innovative spirit, and Angelo Gaja was the first to plant Chardonnay in Piemonte (Piedmont) and produced Gaia & Rey Chardonnay in 1983. Aged in oak for 6-8 months, it is rich and full, but the lively acidity keeps the fruit, floral, and herbal flavors dancing on the palate. I’ve tasted older vintages of Gaia & Rey, and it ages like a dream.

Haynes Vineyard, Vigneron Chardonnay 2020, Coombsville, Napa Valley, California, $120

I can't resist a sip with an intriguing backstory. First planted in 1967, Haynes Vineyard is home to Napa Valley's oldest Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vines. This historic vineyard lies within the collapsed caldera of an ancient volcano and is the coolest site in Coombsville. This magical combination of vine age, diverse soils, and unique climatic conditions imbue the wines with freshness, structure, and texture. Vigneron is the lightest and freshest of the three Chardonnays in the Haynes portfolio, but it lacks for nothing. The grapes for Vigneron were sourced from a younger selection of thirty-year-old vines, and they've developed a great deal of character over the decades—an impeccably balanced and nuanced wine.

Lingua Franca Estate Chardonnay 2021, Eola-Amity Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon, $60

I’m a big fan of wines from the Willamette Valley and finally had a chance to visit the region last summer. (I plan on writing a post in the future focused on the region.) Willamette Valley’s excellent Pinot Noir gets plenty of well-deserved fanfare but the Chardonnay is also pretty fantastic. I tasted this beauty from Lingua Franca at an event in NYC a few months ago and was instantly impressed — I had two glasses. The wine spends time in French oak and on the lees, which infuses it with so much texture, body, and finesse.

Los Vascos Cromas Gran Reserva Chardonnay 2022, Colchagua Valley, Chile, ($28)

If you look closely at the Los Vascos front label, you’ll see Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite - one of the most storied names in wine. In 1988, the venerable French family acquired Los Vascos in Chile to blend the Lafite tradition with Chilean terroir. This energetic and festive expression of Chardonnay has lively tropical flavors and a hint of cream.

Louis Jadot Chablis 2022, Chablis, France, $29

I recently wrote an article for The SOMM Journal describing Chablis as the Chardonnay gateway. Burgundy’s northernmost appellation, Chablis, is known for pure expressions of Chardonnay that have traditionally not been aged in oak. Louis Jadot’s classic expression of Chablis shows that a lack of oak doesn’t mean the wine will be harsh and austere. It is crisp and juicy with lip-smacking stony minerality and salinity.

Newton Unfiltered Chardonnay 2021, Napa Valley, California, $60.50

Too often, all Chardonnay from Napa is assumed to be big and buttery. That is undoubtedly one style, but this superb sip from Newton shows that a Napa Chardonnay can be rich and robust without being over the top. It aged in French oak for ten months, and the lees were hand stirred (bǎtonnage). Unfiltered, none of its gorgeous citrus, stone fruit, tropical, and spice flavors were stripped away. Beautiful winemaking.