Magazine of wine 

The most widely planted grape varietal in the world is Chardonnay. The earliest recorded history of this grape dates back to the 1300’s when it was planted by Cistercian monks in France. Its ancestral home originates within the east-central region of Burgundy. This region is also home to some of the most expensive renditions of this grape.

In California, Chardonnay remains the most widely planted white grape varietal in the state with over 100,000 acres of vineyards. The cool climate influence and Pacific fog of California’s North Coast offers the ideal breeding ground and microclimate for Chardonnay. There is an array of diverse styles from California stretching from the northern latitudes of Anderson Valley through Sonoma Coast, Carneros and Santa Cruz Mountains into the Santa Lucia Highlands and down past the southern fringes of Santa Barbara County.