With all the benefits associated with drinking red wine, I should probably broaden my selections, but my favorite wine is not red, it’s white. And my favorite white wine is Chardonnay.

Chardonnay’s homeland is France. It is very popular, versatile, and easy to grow. Chardonnay is now found in every wine-producing country, but California was the first region to produce excellent wines from Chardonnay outside of France. You can find many excellent Chardonnay wines from every wine producing country, including Canada, Chile, Australia, Argentina, Spain, and Italy.

Chardonnay produces fine wines that are full-bodied, with a creamy and buttery flavor. Another key component to the flavor of Chardonnay is oak. Most Chardonnay’s are aged in oak barrels. Less expensive brands are flavored with oak chips. Aging Chardonnay in oak is what gives it that familiar buttery, creamy, smoky and vanilla uniqueness.

My three favorite Chardonnays’ are available almost everywhere. They are all Chardonnay under $20 and have varied tastes – they are Woodbridge Chardonnay, Lindeman’s Chardonnay, and Yellow Tail Chardonnay.

Woodbridge Chardonnay is a full bodied Californian wine with delicious fresh citrus, apple, tropical fruit, and orange blossom and spice characteristics. It’s a classic dry white wine with effervescent aromas. Barrel fermentation and aging add complexity and a hint of creamy oak to the finish.

Lindeman’s Chardonnay is a crisp tasting Australian wine with mostly tropical fruit, citrus and fig aromas. The dominant flavors are pear, citrus, cedar, and spice with an oak finish. It is said to be 100% Chardonnay, and you may be pleasantly surprised and delighted with this substantial Chardonnay.

Yellow Tail Chardonnay, is another Australian wine with peaches, coconut, vanilla and spice aromas. It is silky smooth, medium-bodied, with flavors of tropical fruits, peaches, coconut and toasty oak. It’s a really well balanced Chardonnay.

So don’t let the economy bother you. Grab a great bottle of Chardonnay on the way home.

Cheers!