Chardonnay Still the King of White Wines

Although varietals such as Pinot Gris and Viognier continue to grow in popularity, Chardonnay is still the undisputed king of white wines among Americans.

One of the reasons for Chardonnay’s success is its versatility. It can be made in a light, crisp style, oaked or unoaked, fruit-forward, or rich and buttery, to name just a few possibilities. It also pairs up well with a variety of foods, giving it broad-ranging appeal and the perennial favorite of many white wine drinkers.

I spoke with Kurt Schlicker, Owner/Winemaker of Walla Walla’s Rulo Winery during a recent wine tasting at Compass Wines in Anacortes. Schlicker echoes the sentiments of many Washington winemakers by feeling the need to branch out with different varietals. And yet he continues to produce Chardonnay, primarily because the state has a number of vineyards that consistently yield top quality grapes.

His 2005 Rulo Chardonnay (about $22) is a case in point. This beautiful wine is big, bold and tastes full in the mouth. It’s filled with buttery, baked apple flavors topped with creamy, butterscotch accents and a well-rounded, toasty oak finish. Outstanding!

As a contrast, you might want to try the 2004 Bogle Vineyards Chardonnay(about $11) from California’s Sacramento Valley. This is what I would consider to be a lighter style Chardonnay, with nice citrus and green apple flavors and hints of vanilla on the finish. If you prefer red wine, Bogle also produces a dynamite Petite Syrah that generally retails for only about $13 a bottle.