Chardonnay Quiz
Two rounds, instant scoring, no sign-up. From unoaked Chablis to buttery California styles, see how well you know one of the world's most widely planted white wine grapes, then keep a tasting journal to remember what you learn.
What this quiz covers
12 questions across two rounds: 6 beginner and 6 advanced. Here's what you'll be asked:
- Is Chardonnay usually dry or sweet?
- Where did Chardonnay originally come from?
- What gives many Chardonnays their buttery, vanilla character?
- Is Chablis made from Chardonnay?
- Which best describes an unoaked Chardonnay?
- Chardonnay is one of the…
- What does malolactic fermentation do to Chardonnay?
- Meursault and Puligny-Montrachet are famous Chardonnays from which area?
- Most Blanc de Blancs Champagne is made from which grape?
- Which tends to produce leaner, higher-acid Chardonnay?
- What does aging 'sur lie' add to a Chardonnay?
- On a white Burgundy label, what do 'Premier Cru' and 'Grand Cru' indicate?
Study notes: answers & key facts (open to reveal)
- Is Chardonnay usually dry or sweet? Bone dry to dry. Almost all still Chardonnay is fermented fully dry. The 'sweetness' people notice is usually ripe fruit or vanilla from oak, not actual sugar.
- Where did Chardonnay originally come from? Burgundy, France. Chardonnay's home is Burgundy in eastern France. It's now grown almost everywhere wine is made.
- What gives many Chardonnays their buttery, vanilla character? Oak barrel aging. Oak barrels (plus malolactic fermentation) create vanilla, toast and buttery notes. Unoaked styles skip the barrel and taste crisp and fruity.
- Is Chablis made from Chardonnay? Yes, it's 100% Chardonnay. Chablis is a cool region in northern Burgundy where the wine is always Chardonnay, typically unoaked, dry and mineral.
- Which best describes an unoaked Chardonnay? Crisp and citrusy with no vanilla. Without oak, Chardonnay shows bright apple, lemon and pear, fresh and clean, closer to Chablis than to a buttery California style.
- Chardonnay is one of the… most planted white wine grapes in the world. Chardonnay is planted in nearly every wine-producing country, making it one of the most widely grown white wine grapes.
- What does malolactic fermentation do to Chardonnay? Softens sharp acidity and adds a buttery note. It converts tart malic acid into softer lactic acid; a by-product (diacetyl) is what gives that classic buttery aroma.
- Meursault and Puligny-Montrachet are famous Chardonnays from which area? Côte de Beaune, Burgundy. These prized white-Burgundy villages sit in the Côte de Beaune and produce rich, age-worthy Chardonnay.
- Most Blanc de Blancs Champagne is made from which grape? Chardonnay. 'Blanc de Blancs' means 'white from whites.' In Champagne it almost always means a wine made entirely from Chardonnay, though a few other white grapes are permitted.
- Which tends to produce leaner, higher-acid Chardonnay? Cooler climates like Chablis. Cool sites preserve acidity and give taut, mineral wines; warmer regions ripen the fruit for fuller, rounder styles.
- What does aging 'sur lie' add to a Chardonnay? Creamy texture and complexity from resting on spent yeast. 'Sur lie' means the wine rests on its lees (spent yeast cells), which adds body, texture and savory, bready complexity.
- On a white Burgundy label, what do 'Premier Cru' and 'Grand Cru' indicate? A vineyard quality classification. They rank the vineyard: Grand Cru sites sit at the top, Premier Cru just below, with village and regional wines beneath them.
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