chardonnay

noun

char·​don·​nay ˌshär-də-ˈnā 

variants often Chardonnay

: a full-bodied white wine that is known for its complexity, depth of flavor, and capacity to age, that is one of the world's most popular wines, that is notably produced in Burgundy, California, and Australia, and that is used in the production of champagne

also : the grape itself

Examples of chardonnay in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Vitis vinifera varietal (including cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay and zinfandel), grafted onto a rootstock that is disease-resistant to phylloxera, is the ideal type of wine grapevine. — The San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Sep. 2026

Blanc slate Another white wine star is Lisa Amaroli of Benziger, whose 2024 Benziger Running Wild Chardonnay from the Paicines AVA of San Benito County, is a lightly oaked, very breezy and unencumbered approach to chardonnay. — Laura Ness, Mercury News, 30 Aug. 2026

Tabor Hill has been producing wine for more than five decades, and today its broad portfolio includes crisp Rieslings, restrained Chardonnays, savory reds, and a lively sparkling program. — Amy Bizzarri, Midwest Living, 20 Aug. 2026

At happy hour, fresh Marlborough oysters, caviar bumps delivered tableside via trolley cart, and crisp glasses of Central Otago chardonnay flow freely inside the Library Bar. — Michelle Gross, Robb Report, 30 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, a grape variety, probably from Chardonnay, village in the Mâconnais (region surrounding mâcon)

First Known Use

1886, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for chardonnay

• montane