It’s always been in my nature to try new things. I’m that friend who suggests we check out the new restaurant for dinner, plan a trip to a city we’ve never been to and talk to the server about the unique wine on the menu that we’ve never heard of. It wasn’t until I reached adulthood that I realized this lifestyle isn’t preferred by everyone. There are many who like what they like and the rest of the options out there are simply white noise. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, but I assume if you’re reading this article you fall under the former and not the latter. I bring this up because the world of wine is vast and contains an endless amount of variety that shouldn’t be missed. I’ve been with countless adventurous eaters and drinkers who take a look at the menu and quickly say, “I don’t like malbec” or “I don’t like South African wine” and reference one bottle they were gifted or a single glass at a wine bar. If you’re looking to explore new wines, I encourage you not to write off an entire grape or country based on one experience. 

 

I get it. Wine isn’t cheap and when that merlot from Chile turns out to be a waste of time, money and calories, you will likely avoid ordering it in the future. I, myself, have done this. I remember my first merlot. It was syrupy, dense and I couldn’t finish the glass. It wasn’t until I was lucky enough to try an exceptional Right Bank Bordeaux made with predominantly merlot that my mind changed. Now, instead of avoiding merlot altogether, if I’m in the type of place where my server is well versed on the menu, I will take their advice and try the exciting new glass that’s available even if it is a merlot. Because of this, I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying a wide variety of merlots and can speak to the grape in a better sense than when I was basing it off of that one unpleasant glass.

 

The most prevalent grape that I am currently seeing this situation occur with is chardonnay. When I was taking my wine classes, they referred to this epidemic as having turned many into “A.B.C.” people. Those who will ask for a glass of white and say, “I’ll have anything but chardonnay.” Nowadays, chardonnay is to California as riesling was to Germany for a long period of time. For many, riesling immediately points to the words cheap and sweet. In reality, riesling is one of the most highly awarded grapes in the world and is the favorite white grape of sommeliers and wine connoisseurs alike. A few cheap brands took riesling international with their poorly made, sugary riesling and Germany spent decades working to recover from the perception that those wines brought to the rest of the world. Thankfully, that perception is changing. However, California chardonnay is now on the sh*tlist of many. Similarly to riesling, once oaky California chardonnay captured the heart of America, a handful of big brands grew low quality chardonnay grapes, threw in some oak chips and sold millions of bottles of cheap, easy drinking wine to the masses. Many tried those wines and wrote off chardonnay for good. They are perfumy and flat and I don’t blame them. However, I must make my case for why it’s time to give chardonnay another chance. 

 

Chardonnay is the most widely grown white grape in the world. Many don’t realize its versatility and I’d love to share some chardonnay based wines that you and everyone should try. Especially if you hear “chardonnay” and think “blegh”. First and foremost, let me bring up Chablis. If you are not a fan of oaky chardonnay, Chablis is for you. Chablis is a region of Burgundy in France that is farther north than the remainder of the region. Due to the cooler weather, the grapes don’t get quite as ripe and sweet and therefore make fresher, crisper wines than what is grown in most of California. The real key here is that winemakers in Chablis generally do not age their wines in oak. Oaked chardonnay can be a magical thing, but it’s fun to try a wine that’s usually full of secondary flavors in its purest form. Burgundy in general specializes in chardonnay and if you can afford one, my number one choice would be a white Burgundy from the Mâconnais region. You will not be disappointed. 

 

If you’d like to keep things closer to home, I recommend Washington state and certainly California. Some beautifully balanced chardonnays are coming out of Walla Walla, Washington and despite what I may have mentioned earlier, you can’t leave California out of the conversation.  With a little bit of research to avoid the big-box stuff, chardonnays from California absolutely sing. A trip to your local shop (a small one, where everything is vetted and the staff is knowledgeable) or asking your server at a restaurant with a curated wine list will expose you to the wide world of chardonnay. With a little courage and an open mind, I assure you that any negative perception you have about California chardonnay will change for the better. With that, I leave you with one small request. Don’t be an A.B.C. person!