The Wine Fact Center

Outside of Champagne, the term Pinot Noir Chardonnay is the name now used to describe a sparkling wine. With the European Union protecting the rights of wine producing regions, including the region in France known as, Champagne, (and rightly so), sparkling wine is also commonly called a Pinot Chardonnay, based on the fact that a sparkling wine is produced from these two grape varieties.

Don’t be fooled, the quality, texture and taste of a Pinot Chardonnay can be just as alluring and exciting as any Champagne. Needless to say that most Pinot Chardonnays are produced using the same methods as its French counterparts.
Big name distrbutors Moet and Chandon even list a few hidden Pinot Chardonnay gems in the inventory lists.$$$   A couple of these hidden gems come from Yarra Valley in Australia, a popular wine growing region.

Some particular ‘Sparklers’ of note also originate from New Zealand, especially in the North Island.

Many attempts over the years to combine various grape varieties have resulted in some fantastic successes and some tragic 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.  On the other side of this, the mixture of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay used in combination with the sparkling fermentation process has lead to a very popular drop.

The Pinot Chardonnay series has proven to be very popular for social events like picnics, BBQ’s and wine bars, which is why they are commonly distributed in 200ml and 375ml sizes.  Packaging and delivery of sparking varieties is also easy thanks to the advancements of technology in these areas over the years.

And as if you weren’t convinced already, Pinot Chardonnays are also much cheaper in price than their champagne brethren, delivering the same quality and enjoyment at a fraction of the price.

See if your friends can taste the difference and set up a blind taste test this weekend - you’ll probably be very surprised!

Follow the link for more information on Chardonnay wine varieties.