The UK was not the only country to fall in love with chardonnay. By the mid-90s, chardonnay had become the second most widely planted white grape in the world, as growers in every wine-producing country (apart from Spain) ripped out local varieties to make room for it.
By and large they were attempting to make wines in the same style as the Australians and Californians who had done so well out of the variety, creating a ripe tropical fruity and oaky wine (either from barrels or the addition of oak chips) with buttery notes.
For many people this style has come to represent what chardonnay is. But that profile no longer fits with current wine tastes. According to the market researchers, sales of chardonnay have stagnated. We now spend more on the livelier, or at least unoaked, sauvignon blanc, or the neutral pinot grigio, growing at a remarkable 18% a year.
However it is important to know that the stereotypical chardonnay is largely a thing of the past. Chardonnay producers around the world are now much more likely to emphasise freshness and use oak with a lot more restraint or not at all. Producers have moved towards fresher, lighter, more "zippy" styles of white wines and chardonnays have adjusted accordingly.
Indeed, chardonnay – the ingredient of white burgundy and an important part of the blend of most champagnes – is responsible for a disproportionate amount of the world's finest whites and it's time to give this great grape another chance – you may be pleasantly suprised....
Now, “Spanish chardonnay?” you might be saying….. Well, it’s true it is not very common, but why not when it's as exuberantly fresh, fruity and zippy as this one I recently discovered in the Corte Inglés supermarket. It is totally unoaked and centered on its fruity flavours with notes of guava, melon and peach. Perfect for any time of day and especially good with rice, seafood and fish or just as a drink for your evening party. I recommend you drink it very cold at around 6ºC, it’s just so much better, and for the price of €2,95 the quality is astounding.
Hope you enjoy it!
You can buy it online here:
http://ansamagourmet.com/vinos-y-licores/otros/vino-de-la-tierra/veranza-blanco-chardonnay/#.Vv0OEzZa5nZ
UPDATE - Veranza Tinto €3,13
Veranza also have a wonderful young red which I have to say for the price is absolutely fantastic. Fresh and fruity and packed full of ripe red fruit alongside faint undertones of toasty wood, reminscent of light ageing. it is low in tannins and an extremely easy wine to drink with or without food. You must give it a go! At just over €3 euros it is a so good for the price. I would happily pay double for it. Give it a go. Available now in the Corte Ingles supermarket. The ‘Veranza’ wines are produced at Finca San Miguel in Valle del Cinca (Huesca). The estate has a total of 435.5 hectares of vineyards and is owned by the Codorníu Group of Spain, one of the oldest and largest winemaking companies in the world (The same family has owned Codorniu since 1551).
