Chardonnay
The world's most versatile white — a blank canvas that reflects site and cellar, from taut Chablis to rich, barrel-fermented California styles.
Apple, citrus and hazelnut — steely and mineral or creamy and oaked.
Lobster, roast chicken, creamy pastas.
Burgundy, Napa & Sonoma (Carneros, Russian River), Champagne.
Wineries growing Chardonnay
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars
Stags Leap District · Est. 1970
Silky, red-and-black-fruited Cabernet with graceful structure; the benchmark for finesse in Napa.
Cakebread Cellars
Rutherford · Est. 1973
Bright citrus-and-oak Chardonnay; the Cabernet is balanced with fresh acidity and cedar.
Chateau Montelena
Calistoga · Est. 1882
Taut, mineral Chardonnay that ages for decades; the Estate Cabernet is firm and savoury.
Beringer Vineyards
St. Helena · Est. 1876
The Private Reserve is a benchmark, age-worthy Napa Cabernet — cassis, cedar and toasty oak.
Far Niente
Oakville · Est. 1885
Poised, understated Cabernet and a rich, barrel-fermented Chardonnay — classic Napa polish.
Shafer Vineyards
Stags Leap District · Est. 1972
Dense yet lifted — black cherry, espresso and cocoa with sweet, mountain-fruit tannin.
Grgich Hills Estate
Rutherford · Est. 1977
Restrained, mineral Chardonnay and a classically proportioned Cabernet — freshness over flash.
Trefethen Family Vineyards
Oak Knoll District · Est. 1968
Crisp, citrusy Chardonnay and a savoury Dragon's Tooth blend — the cool Oak Knoll signature.
Darioush
Napa Valley · Est. 1997
Lush, polished Cabernet and a rare Napa Shiraz — generous fruit and sweet spice.
Domaine Chandon
Yountville · Est. 1973
Crisp, citrus-and-brioche sparkling; a joyful start or finish to any wine day.
Schramsberg Vineyards
Calistoga · Est. 1965
Toasty, complex, long-lees-aged sparkling with genuine ageing potential.
Domaine Carneros
Carneros · Est. 1987
Elegant, chalky sparkling; Le Rêve is one of California's finest Blanc de Blancs.
Mumm Napa
Rutherford · Est. 1979
Crisp, fruit-forward sparkling; the DVX prestige cuvée adds toasty depth.
Artesa Vineyards & Winery
Carneros · Est. 1991
Bright Carneros Chardonnay and Pinot; go for the view and stay for the bubbles.
Sterling Vineyards
Calistoga · Est. 1964
Easy-drinking Napa classics; the gondola ride and views are the headline.
Jordan Vineyard & Winery
Alexander Valley · Est. 1972
Restrained, food-friendly Cabernet and a taut Russian River Chardonnay — French sensibility, Sonoma fruit.
Gary Farrell Vineyards & Winery
Russian River Valley · Est. 1982
Silky red-cherry Pinot with forest-floor lift; the Chardonnays are precise and mineral.
Ferrari-Carano Vineyards
Dry Creek Valley · Est. 1981
Crisp Fumé Blanc and rich Chardonnay; the gardens make it a photographer's favourite.
Arista Winery
Russian River Valley · Est. 2002
Detailed, red-fruited Pinot with silky texture and true vineyard signatures.
Rodney Strong Vineyards
Russian River Valley · Est. 1959
Reliable, well-priced Sonoma classics across Cabernet, Chardonnay and Pinot.
Francis Ford Coppola Winery
Alexander Valley · Est. 2006
Crowd-pleasing, well-made reds; a family-friendly destination day.
Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate
Sonoma County · Est. 1982
Ripe, tropical, lightly oaked Chardonnay; the culinary gardens are a highlight.
Iron Horse Vineyards
Green Valley of Russian River · Est. 1976
Crisp, mineral estate sparkling; the al-fresco tasting deck is unbeatable at golden hour.
J Vineyards & Winery
Russian River Valley · Est. 1986
Bright, brioche-edged sparkling and juicy Russian River Pinot — go for the Bubble Room.
Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards
Carneros · Est. 1986
Approachable, fruit-driven sparkling; the terrace views seal the deal.
Chalk Hill Estate
Chalk Hill · Est. 1972
Textural, mineral Chardonnay; the estate grounds are extraordinary.
Matanzas Creek Winery
Bennett Valley · Est. 1977
Crisp, herb-tinged Sauvignon Blanc and polished Merlot; visit in early summer bloom.
Scribe Winery
Sonoma Valley · Est. 2007
Lower-intervention, energetic wines; the hacienda-and-eucalyptus setting is a scene.
Three Sticks Wines
Sonoma Coast · Est. 2002
Precise, single-vineyard Pinot from benchmark sites; the adobe setting is unmatched.
Buena Vista Winery
Sonoma Valley · Est. 1857
Approachable estate reds wrapped in genuine California history.
Kunde Family Winery
Sonoma Valley · Est. 1904
Reliable estate range; the mountain-top tasting has a jaw-dropping valley view.
Chateau St. Jean
Sonoma Valley · Est. 1973
Polished Bordeaux-style Cinq Cépages; the manicured gardens are a highlight.
Landmark Vineyards
Sonoma Valley · Est. 1974
Ripe, balanced Chardonnay and Pinot; a laid-back afternoon stop.
Silverado Vineyards
Stags Leap District · Est. 1981
Polished, red-fruited Cabernet with supple Stags Leap texture and gentle oak.
Rombauer Vineyards
St. Helena · Est. 1980
Ripe, creamy and tropical — unabashedly lush, oak-kissed Chardonnay.
Clos Du Val
Stags Leap District · Est. 1972
Restrained, Bordeaux-inflected Cabernet with fine-grained tannin and freshness.
Rochioli Vineyards & Winery
Russian River Valley · Est. 1976
Vivid red-cherry Pinot with silky texture; the estate Sauvignon Blanc is a cult favourite.
Hanzell Vineyards
Sonoma Valley · Est. 1953
Age-worthy, mineral Chardonnay and structured Pinot from some of the state's oldest vines.
MacRostie Winery
Russian River Valley · Est. 1987
Bright, balanced Chardonnay and Pinot in one of Westside Road's most beautiful settings.
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti
Vosne-Romanée, Côte de Nuits · Est. 1869
Ethereal, spice-laden Pinot of near-mythical complexity and endless length.
Domaine Leflaive
Puligny-Montrachet, Côte de Beaune · Est. 1920
Struck-flint, citrus and hazelnut with laser precision and mineral depth.
Krug
Reims, Champagne · Est. 1843
Brioche, toasted nuts and candied citrus with astonishing depth and a creamy mousse.
Dom Pérignon
Épernay, Champagne · Est. 1936
Precise, mineral and toasty with a taut, saline finish that rewards cellaring.
Catena Zapata
Uco Valley, Mendoza · Est. 1902
Violet, blackberry and cocoa with vibrant, altitude-driven freshness.
Chardonnay FAQs
What does Chardonnay taste like?
Chardonnay typically shows Apple, citrus and hazelnut — steely and mineral or creamy and oaked. The world's most versatile white — a blank canvas that reflects site and cellar, from taut Chablis to rich, barrel-fermented California styles.
What food pairs with Chardonnay?
Chardonnay pairs beautifully with Lobster, roast chicken, creamy pastas.
Where is Chardonnay grown?
Classic homes for Chardonnay include Burgundy, Napa & Sonoma (Carneros, Russian River), Champagne. Estates in our guide that grow it include Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, Cakebread Cellars, Chateau Montelena, Beringer Vineyards, Far Niente, Shafer Vineyards.
Taste Chardonnay where it grows best
Let a Chauffyr chauffeur plan a wine day around the estates that make Chardonnay shine.