Chardonnay is a super versatile, medium-bodied white wine, made using a green-skinned grape variety. It’s one of the most popular wines in the world, but if you’re new to this grape, we’ll hedge our bets that questions like, “What does Chardonnay taste like?”, “Is Chardonnay dry?”, and “Is Chardonnay sweet?” are gonna be the first few on your lips. And while we’d love to hand you a cold, crisp glass of the good stuff through the screen so you can taste our Barefoot Buttery Chardonnay for yourself, this blog post is the next best thing! Read on for all you need to know…
Is Buttery Chardonnay Wine Sweet or Dry?
Let’s get the most common question out of the way: Barefoot Buttery Chardonnay is a dry white wine. The Chardonnay grapes are fermented for longer, so the natural sugars in the grapes are eaten by the yeast. This leaves the wine with less residual sugar, and hence making it a dry wine.
But just because it’s classified as a dry wine, it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have any sweetness at all. “Sweetness” is a term used by wine professionals to describe how much residual sugar is in a wine, but a sweet taste can still be perceived by the other different elements of the Chardonnay - such as its fruitiness and oak-derived flavours.
What Does Buttery Chardonnay Taste Like?
Here at Barefoot, we’ve taken our love for Chardonnay and created something truly special with our Buttery Chardonnay. This delightful wine is all about indulgence with its rich, creamy texture and smooth finish. Think of lush tropical fruits like pineapple and mango, coupled with hints of vanilla and a toasty oak character. It's like a warm hug in a glass!
Where is Chardonnay From?
Chardonnay is appropriately named after the small village of Chardonnay in France, where the grapes are originally from. It is one of the most widely planted white grapes in the world, surpassing Airén grapes from Spain and Trebbiano from Italy.
How Should Buttery Chardonnay Be Served?
Should Chardonnay be chilled? Absolutely! If you don’t chill your Chardonnay, the flavours are prone to becoming a bit muddled and confused – a bit like us humans when we’re overheating. However, you don’t want to serve it too cold either, as it’ll alter the tasting notes.
Barefoot Buttery Chardonnay is best served chilled to just over 10 degrees Celsius – an hour or two in the fridge should do the trick, then leave it on the side for 10 minutes before pouring. If you’re short on time, pop the bottle in a bucket of ice with some table salt. Yes, table salt – it works as a heat absorber, which helps bring down the temperature far quicker.
How Long Does Wine Last When Opened?
They say all good things must come to an end, and sadly the same has to be said for wine – it goes bad if left open for too long. This happens as a result of oxygen sneaking into the bottle and mingling with the wine, which causes a chemical reaction that makes it taste sharp or like bruised fruit. But worry not, you won’t waste a drop if you follow the below steps.
To get the best out of your bottle of Barefoot Buttery Chardonnay, make sure you screw the cap back on after each pour, or use a well-sealed bottle stopper – this will reduce the amount of oxygen getting into the bottle. It’s also a good idea to store your bottle of wine upright, as this reduces the surface area exposed to the air. You’ll want to pop the bottle back in the fridge after pouring, too, as the cooler the temperature, the slower the chemical reaction. Resealed bottles of opened Barefoot Buttery Chardonnay will last up to five days in the fridge and still taste fab!
What Food Goes with Buttery Chardonnay?
If you’ve bagged the perfect bottle of Barefoot Buttery Chardonnay and can’t wait to crack it open, but want to pair it with some food to amp up the flavours even more, we’ve got your back. We’re often asked, “What does Chardonnay pair well with?”, so we’ve come up with a whole host of great options.
Buttery Chardonnay is light and easy drinking, so it’s a perfect match for fish. Think plates featuring fresh white fish, scallops, prawns, or crab. It’s also perfect for special occasions – or simple treat yo’self vibes – when teamed up with oysters. If you’re a pasta lover, try a crisp glass of Buttery Chardonnay with creamy dishes like spaghetti carbonara – our guide to pairing wine with pasta has all the details. But can you use Chardonnay for cooking? Uh, yeah! Try it in a creamy pasta sauce to give it a bit of pzazz. For something even more indulgent, this fresh take on mac n’ cheese is just the ticket when washed down with a glass of Buttery Chardonnay.
You didn’t think we’d forgotten about the sweet stuff, did you? Barefoot Buttery Chardonnay is a match made in heaven for white chocolate – the vanilla aromas and fruity nature of the wine mean it blends perfectly with the sweet, smooth flavours of white chocolate.
If it sounds like Buttery Chardonnay might be your cup of tea – sorry, glass of wine – then why not give it a try? Fancy something a bit different? Check out our full range of white wines and start making some space in the fridge… Cheers!