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    Chardonnay

    Vitis vinifera L.

    The white grape of Burgundy, born of Pinot and a peasant variety, planted in 41 countries in 2015.

    VIVC
    № 24551
    Berry skin
    white (blanc)1
    Origin
    France1
    Synonyms in VIVC
    1731
    central lobepetiolar sinuslobes: 5cluster
    parentPinot
    parentGouais Blanc (Heunisch Weiss)
    Chardonnay

    confirmed by DNA markers (VIVC)

    vinoluma engraving: schematic leaf after the description (5 lobes).

    Where Chardonnay comes from and grows

    1. Origin (VIVC)France
    2. Atlas regionNapa Valley
    3. Atlas regionChablis
    4. Atlas regionChampagne
    5. Atlas regionBarossa Valley
    6. Atlas regionMarlborough

    Country of origin as given by VIVC. Regions are those where the atlas sources mention the variety; not a complete list of where it grows.

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    A noble and a peasant

    Chardonnay comes from Burgundy.2 In September 1999 John Bowers and Carole Meredith of UC Davis published in Science that it is the offspring of Pinot and Gouais Blanc.3 VIVC lists the same pair, Heunisch Weiss × Pinot, as confirmed by markers.1

    Where it grows

    In 2015 Chardonnay was planted on 210,000 hectares in 41 countries.4 In Champagne it covers 31% of the vineyard.5

    Its reputation for loving limestone is often repeated. Geologist Alex Maltman points out that this mostly reflects where the variety first grew, not a proven taste of soil.6

    Other names

    Examples of synonyms recorded in VIVC: Arnaison Blanc, Aubaine, Auvergnat Blanc, Arboisier, Auvernas.1

    Around the world

    In 2023 it covered 222,926 hectares of bearing vineyards worldwide, ranking 4 of 1497 varieties in the database.7

    The largest area is in France: 64,035 ha (29% of the world total), across 47 countries.7

    Between 2000 and 2023 its area grew by 53%.7

    1. France64,035 ha
    2. the United States40,190 ha
    3. Italy23,135 ha
    4. Australia21,454 ha
    5. Spain11,867 ha
    6. Chile10,206 ha
    7. South Africa6,557 ha
    8. Argentina5,522 ha
    9. Russia5,508 ha
    10. Moldova4,133 ha
    11. Bulgaria3,525 ha
    12. New Zealand3,099 ha

    Area, 2023

    145,469199,727202,882222,9262000201020162023

    Regions

    Sources

    1. VIVC passport no. 2455. Vitis International Variety Catalogue (JKI), accessed 2026-10-13. level 2 · checked 2026-10-15
    2. Chardonnay B. plantGrape (IFV / INRAE / Institut Agro), accessed 2026-10-13. level 2 · checked 2026-10-15
    3. DNA Fingerprinting Reveals Surprise in Wine-grape Family Tree (on Bowers et al., Science, 3 Sept 1999). University of California, Davis, 1999. level 4 · checked 2026-10-15
    4. Focus OIV 2017: Distribution of the world's grapevine varieties. OIV, 2017. level 2 · checked 2026-10-15
    5. Champagne and its grape varieties. Comité Champagne. level 4 · checked 2026-10-15
    6. On rocky ground: The science of soil and wine taste (Prof. Alex Maltman). Decanter, 2018. level 4 · checked 2026-10-15
    7. Database of Regional, National and Global Winegrape Bearing Areas by Variety, 2000 to 2023. Anderson K., Nelgen S., Puga G. Wine Economics Research Centre, University of Adelaide (CC BY 4.0), 2026. level 3 · checked 2026-10-15