A great glass of red wine is always welcome, but when the temperatures are up to 100°, you want something cold to cool off. Chardonnay is the most popular varietal in the United States and different regions all over the world produce diverse flavors and profiles. I visit my friends at We Are Austin and share 4 of my favorites from across the globe, plus the best temperature for wine. Watch the segment here.
My Wine Finds:
From the Columbia Valley is the Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay. In this particular region of Washington, they have a longer growing season and colder temperatures that give this wine a fresh apple and citrus profile. This wine is soft with subtle hints of spice and oak. $8
Next, is Chardonnay from right here in our home state: the Becker Vineyards Chardonnay. Our growing season is hot and fast which makes some people believe that it shouldn’t even be made here. However, people like the Beckers have proved them wrong. This wine is deep, rich and creamy. It has tropical and citrus fruits balanced by notes of toasted oak. $11
This pick is one of my favorites. Made in France, Les Charmes Macon-Lugny Chardonnay is a Burgundian-style Chardonnay. This isn’t buttery like the American versions. You’ll taste toasty notes, crisp acidity and hints of fruit like citrus, green apple and pear $13
The Calling Chardonnay is made in the Russian River Valley. This wine has an interesting growing season: at night it’s cool and foggy and by day the temperatures jump up by 35°! As a result, it’s a light to medium-bodied Chardonnay. It is aromatic with notes of lemon, honeysuckle and rose, plus a crisp acidity balanced with subtle French oak. $27
As always, thank you to our good friends at KEYE CBS Austin! You can find all of these wines at your local H-E-B or buy them online at HEB.com. Bonus: Get 10% off your entire purchase when you buy six or more bottles.
Leave a Reply