YAY for Chardonnay!

I like Chardonnay. There, I admit it.  Even with all of the press about the health benefits of red wines, the French Paradox, and the proliferation of gourmet steak houses, given a choice, I always choose Chardonnay.  It is the perfect wine  to unwind after a hard day at the office or with a group of friends.

It seems I am not alone in my love for Chardonnay.  According to The Wine Institute and Nielsen , a leading global provider of information and insights into what consumers watch and buy, wine sales in U.S. off-premise measured channels from all domestic and foreign production sources grew 2 percent on volume and almost 4 percent on value.  Most of the growth was with wines from California and other U.S. states, up 4 percent in volume, while imports shrunk 1 percent in volume.

Within table wine, Chardonnay remained the most popular with 21 percent of the volume, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon, 12 percent volume share; Merlot, 10 percent volume share, Pinot Grigio/Gris, 8 percent market share, and White Zinfandel, 7 percent market share. 

Why is Chardonnay so popular?

Chardonnay grapes are easy to grow and can be crafted into many different types of wines. Perhaps they are also so popular because they have little innate character of their own and instead inherit the characteristics of the soil and climate where they are grown. Chardonnay's strength is its structure and its ability to age rather than its aromatic intensity. In general Chardonnay wines are medium to full bodied, with medium acidity and an attractive creamy, buttery character on the palate. Aromas and flavors range from citrus, green apple and pear in cooler climates to more stone and tropical fruit in warmer climates.

While prized Chardonnay wines can be pricey, you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to get a well-made wine.  One of my favorite, inexpensive Chardonnays is Cupcake. If nothing else, the name is friendly and puts me in a happy mood even before I open the wine. Go ahead, uncork a bottle of your favorite Chardonnay!