chardonnay

noun

char·​don·​nay ˌshär-də-ˈnā 

often capitalized

: a dry white table wine typically made from a single white grape variety originally grown in France

also : the grape

Examples of chardonnay in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Accordingly, a wine merchant could substitute a pinot grigio for a chardonnay and successfully claim a duty drawback for the tariffs and excise taxes paid on the import. —Robert Goulder, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025

With many blanc de noirs, that grape is usually pinot noir, but this wine also happens to include some chardonnay. —Jeff Burkhart, Mercury News, 14 May 2025

While cultivated throughout Germany and in limited quantities throughout continental Europe, the diminutive white grape, often compared to grüner veltliner or an unoaked chardonnay, rarely gets much attention. —Anna Lee Iijima, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2025

The blend—chardonnay, pinot noir and meunier—is carefully sourced from select crus and vinified at low temperatures to preserve clarity. —Rachel King, Forbes.com, 14 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

French

First Known Use

1886, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for chardonnay

• montane
• terrane