Pinot Noir Chardonnay : A Snapshot

With a turbulent past, the term Pinot Noir Chardonnay is now the name used to describe what was once formally known as Champagne. The name Pinot Chardonnay has been derived from the varieties of grapes used in its production, while the old name ‘Champagne’ is now only used by the wines produced from the same name region in France, due to European Union action to protect its name.

Besides the name, nothing much has changed in the way of taste and texture and the wines themselves are still as exciting and enjoyable as Champagne. Most Pinot Chardonnays are produced in the same way as many of the French Champagnes.
Moet and Chandon, the King of Champagnes and the distribution of them, has many a Pinot Chardonnay gem hidden in their portfolio.  With some of these wines even being produced from the Yarra Valley in Australia.

Some seriously good ‘Sparklers’ emanate from New Zealand, particularly the north island.

The experimentation with various grape types has lead to some great successes (and failures)  The most common types of grapes used in experimentation are Semillon Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz.  There is a good reason that you don’t find a Sauvignon Blanc Chardonnay.  But the mix of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with the sparkling fermentation process has been a tremendous success.

Pinot Chardonnay has proven to be a winner at social outings such as picnics and BBQ’s, which has led them to be sold in 200ml and 375ml bottles.  Packaging and delivery of sparking varieties is also easy thanks to the advancements of technology in these areas over the years.

As icing on the cake, Pinot Chardonnays are also much cheaper than their French champagne competitors, delivering the same great taste at a fraction of the price.

Set up a blind tasting of your own one day and see if you and your friends can pick the difference.

Follow the link for more information on Chardonnay wine varieties.