Chardonnay
Chardonnay accounts for more of the world's greatest white wines than any other grape. It's the predominant white grape in Burgundy, Champagne, Margaret River and much of California (among other regions). It can also excel in England as a constituent of sparkling wines and, notably in Essex, increasingly exciting still wines. The finest Chardonnays tend to be fermented and aged in oak, but there are many thrilling examples that are unoaked, especially from Chablis, where the limestone soils imbue the wines with a distinctive salty character.
