Chardonnay, Sicily

Chardonnay is a semi-aromatic white grape variety originating from Burgundy and today widespread in many countries such as Italy, United States, Chile, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Israel and Argentina. Especially in Burgundy the Chardonnay has an early ripening which subjects the plant to spring frosts especially in the flat areas. A very versatile grape, Chardonnay lends itself to the production of fresh and young wines, as well as to products suitable for aging after a long phase of aging in barrique. Late harvesting often represents a problem due to the loss of acidity necessary to confer the conservation capacity for products falling within this category. In Italy, with 20.00 hectares dedicated to its production, Chardonnay is successfully produced in Piedmont, Trentino, Aosta Valley, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Lombardy where the acidity is more marked, while the diffusion in regions such as Apulia and Sicily is suitable for the production of wines with greater body and roundness. Therefore, there are many appellations that welcome Chardonnay such as South Tyrol, Castel del Monte, Trento, Trevenezie. The debate on the use of wood is still open, used both in the fermentation and aging phases, remaining a decisive choice in defining the style and recognisability of the producer. In particular, California has adopted this production style for Chardonnay, getting used to rich and dense wines, of great aromatic depth and very different from those produced in Burgundy. To understand the versatility of Chardonnay it would also be enough to compare the Chardonnay from the Chablis region with that produced in the more famous Burgundian area of the Côte de Beaune and in particular from the villages of Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, or from more southern areas such as Mâconnais. Of particular interest is the New Zealand Chardonnay, with greater acidity, with an aromatic range including exotic fruit, floral scents and evident herbaceous tones. If we look at Chile, Chardonnay comes from the region of Casablanca, Leiden Valley and Lìmari Valley. In Chile, the quality of the Chardonnay produced depends enormously on the presence of the oceanic climate that influences the coastal regions: lemon peel, green apple and nuts combine with intense minerality, resulting from the ripening of grapes subject to the presence of cold current of Humboldt from the Pacific. This type of Chilean Chardonnay, notoriously not aged in cask, is suitable for sushi dishes, seafood, white meat dishes and risottos with vegetables. Straw yellow in color, Chardonnay gives wines with hints of tropical fruits such as mango and pineapple, which evolve into hints of dried fruit such as almond and hazelnut, expressing, especially following malolactic fermentation and aging in barrique, aromas of butter and vanilla. Ideal in combination with foie gras and soft cheeses.

Buy Chardonnay

Buying Chardonnay on our site will be a useful and fun experience. In fact, thanks to our optimized search, you can buy the Chardonnay you are looking for with minimal effort and identifying exactly what suits your taste. You can try Planeta's Sicilian Chardonnay or experience the freshness of Ronco del Frassino. You will get to know the Savoy style or take a jump in the mountains with Tramin. If you want to try something international you can buy your Chardonnay ranging between Chile, New Zealand, United States, South Africa. Each of our Chardonnays is waiting for you. Have fun trying this grape variety and you will see that buying Chardonnay online will be a real pleasure!

Does sparkling Chardonnay exist?

Chardonnay is the basic grape variety in the production of Champagne and Franciacorta, both considered sparkling wines obtained with the Metodo Classico, a process that involves a second fermentation in the bottle. A base wine to which carbon dioxide is added and which is then stored in the bottle under pressure is usually defined as 'artificial sparkling'.

What are the characteristics of the Chardonnay grape?

Chardonnay grapes have medium sized clusters with a pyramidal and compact shape. The berries are medium-sized and yellow in color tending to golden. It is a variety with high vigor and usually tends to preserve the acidity of the fruit both to facilitate the production of sparkling wines and to maintain a good aging capacity. It develops very well on hilly soils with calcareous soils and shows extreme sensitivity to spring frosts due to early budding.

What are the best Italian Chardonnays?

Italy is rich in great examples of white wines and among the best Chardonnays can be considered: those from regions such as Trentino, South Tyrol and Friuli-Venezia Giulia, united by a colder climate that allows the development of greater minerality and hints that recall an evident acidity such as green apple, lime and pleasant herbaceous notes. On the contrary, Chardonnay bred in the southern regions of the peninsula is aided in maturation by losing part of the acid charge and presenting a more consistent body and hints of yellow and tropical fruit.

Sicily is a happy island for wine: from the slopes of Etna to the coasts of Cerasuolo, to the small islands of Salina and Pantelleria, each area has its own grape variety and style, with wines so different that sometimes they seem to come from different continents, obtained both from native grapes such as Grillo, Carricante and Frappato, and from great international grapes that have found a small paradise on the island, such as Chardonnay. Viticulture in this region has ancient origins, suspended between the legend that tells of a thirsty Dionysus, from whose tears the first vine was born, and the history that documents the arrival of the Greeks, and before them even the Phoenicians, with the first rooted cuttings.

Character and uniqueness of Sicilian red wines.

The slopes of Etna certainly represent one of the most suitable areas for viticulture in Sicily, with excellent results for Sicilian red wine, which here takes on an almost alpine elegance. Here the extreme conditions such as the volcanic soil, the slope of the land and the altitude of the vineyards make viticulture heroic and there are few indigenous grapes, such as Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio. Sicily, however, has many other interesting appellations as regards red wines: in addition to Etna Doc we find in fact, next to the very small Doc Eloro, which preserves rare native grapes such as Perricone and Pignatello, the Contessa Entellina appellation, cradle of cult Sicilian reds, such as Mille e Una Notte, obtained from Nero d'Avola or from international Cabernet and Merlot grapes. Do not forget the Cerasuolo di Vittoria, in south-eastern Sicily, the only DOCG in the region and an admirable union of Nero d'Avola and Frappato.

Sicilian white wine: dry or sweet, it is however a masterpiece.

Carricante, Grillo, Chardonnay, Malvasia: Sicily is not only the home of great red wines but also of intense and fragrant whites and sweet wines to make you lose your mind. From the aromatic grapes of Chardonnay are born Sicilian white wines for aging in Doc Melfi and Alcamo, able to compete with the great wines of Burgundy, while Moscato, Zibibbo and Malvasia give life to fresh and exciting wines in Salina and on the Sicilian coasts, which become splendid sweet passito wines in Pantelleria, Lipari and Noto. The results of heroic viticulture on Etna are also exceptional, where the whites obtained from Carricante grapes stand out for their minerality and longevity. Last but not least, Marsala, born mainly from white grapes and historical wine of the island of Sicily.

What is the finest Sicilian wine?

It is difficult to answer this question, because Sicily has a wine production equal to that of Veneto and Tuscany, certainly we cannot fail to mention among the red wines the Mille e Una Notte by Donnafugata and the Harmonium by Firriato among the red wines and Planeta's Chardonnay among whites. However, there are other wineries that produce excellent wines such as Tasca d'Almerita and Duca di Salaparuta, Li Ciuri and Cusumano, Palmento Costanzo and Nicosia just to name a few. Finally, among the big names in sweet wines, we cannot forget the Marsala di Florio and the sweet wines of Donnafugata.

What is the oldest sweet Sicilian wine?

Marsala is undoubtedly one of the oldest sweet wines in Sicily: as early as 1832 Vincenzo Florio, a native of Bagnara Calabra, exported this sweet wine to over 99 countries around the world.

What is the best match for a white Sicilian wine?

The Sicilian white wines, with their characteristic intensity that unites them all, the minerality that characterizes those of Etna and the savory notes typical of those born on the islands are perfect in combination with all fish dishes rich in taste, from dishes with sardines up to pasta with swordfish, passing through fish soups and cous cous up to stuffed squid and sweet and sour tuna and aubergine caponata.