Americans buy more Chardonnay than any other wine.
Whether they like it oaky and buttery, crisp and fruity, or somewhere in between, Chardonnay lovers buy a lot of it.
According to the Wine Institute, “The variety is California’s most widely planted wine grape, with 95,271 acres reported in 2010. Chardonnay far and away remains the most popular wine in the United States and has continued to be the leading varietal wine for the last decade, with sales increases every year.”
In 2010, U.S. consumers bought 53 million cases of Chardonnay.
Why is Chardonnay continually No. 1? To answer that question, I went to renowned wine expert and West Coast editor at Wine Enthusiast magazine, Steve Heimoff. He reviews about 4,500 California wines a year!
I posed the question, “What is it about Chardonnay that keeps people buying it more than any other varietal?”
“Because it tastes good,” Heimoff replied. “I mean, it’s a little sweet and creamy, and those are flavors and textures that Americans like, but also Chardonnay is really a noble grape. I mean, even in France it’s been famous for a thousand years. So I think there’s something in our human DNA that just really likes the aromas and flavors and textures of Chardonnay.”
There are few places on Earth better suited for growing Chardonnay grapes than Santa Maria—the site of the annual Chardonnay Symposium, June 29 through July 1.
It’s the only event of its kind devoted solely to the exploration of Chardonnay; a fun, illuminating weekend designed to enlighten consumers, the wine industry, and the media about Chardonnay.
“It’s all about education. Americans love Chardonnay, but they don’t really know a lot about it,” said Chris Slaughter, director of the Chardonnay Symposium.
Working to promote the Santa Maria Valley wine industry, she’s developed a great appreciation for the complexity and quality of the wines from this region.
“We invite guests, from both inside the area and from around the world, to the Santa Maria Valley to educate and inspire them to learn more so that they come to really appreciate Chardonnay,” Slaughter said.
Heimoff is no stranger to this part of California, and he’s a big fan: “I like Chardonnay, and I like symposiums. And this is the first Chardonnay event of its type in California, and I love Santa Barbara County. I love going there! I have a lot of friends, plus the fact that they invited me—I mean, I’d probably go anyway, but if you put all those things together, it’s a no-brainer.”
Heimoff will lead the Saturday morning educational session at Byron Vineyard and Winery. A panel of eight distinguished California Chardonnay producers will discuss “Chardonnay and Terroir: What’s it all about?” Heimoff will ask the experts if they preserve terroir under all that winemaker influence.
(Karen MacNeil’s The Wine Bible defines terroir as “a French term for the sum entity and effect of a vineyard’s soil, slope, orientation to the sun, and elevation, plus every nuance of climate.”)
“Terroir is the starting point,” Heimoff explained. “But from there you need talent—talent on the growing side and the winemaking side—and that means investment of money. Terroir alone is meaningless, but terroir exploited by humans is what it takes to make great wine.”
The symposium kicks off Friday evening, June 29, with a Chardonnay tasting and barbecue at Sierra Madre Vineyard.
Following the morning seminar and tasting on Saturday, June 30, is the Grand Chardonnay Tasting, from noon to 4 p.m., also at Byron Winery, featuring more than 50 Chardonnay-producing wineries from Washington, Oregon, and California, including producers from Sonoma, Napa, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara counties.
Local fine restaurants and caterers will provide gourmet foods. Talented chefs—including Budi Kazali of the Ballard Inn; Alfonso Curti of Trattoria Uliveto; and Ryan Gromfin, formerly of Central City Market—will reveal Chardonnay food-pairing secrets under a demonstration tent at the grand tasting.
Tickets for the grand tasting are $55 through June 29, or $65 the day of the event. Full-day tickets include the morning panel discussion, early admission to the grand tasting at 11:30 a.m., a Riedel wine glass, and transportation from the Santa Maria Radisson Hotel for $95.
The Chardonnay Symposium wraps up Sunday, July 1, with bubbles and pops.
Cottonwood Canyon Winery will be host to a sparkling Chardonnay brunch overlooking the vineyard, featuring bubbly from Riverbench, Flying Goat, and Cottonwood Canyon wineries.
Then, on Sunday afternoon, bring the whole family to the inaugural Pops in the Vineyard, a concert presented by the Santa Maria Philharmonic Orchestra, at Tres Hermanas Vineyard, on Foxen Canyon Road in Santa Maria.
Enjoy “A Salute to America,” recognizable musical pieces by American composers played by the 50-member orchestra, under the direction of Maestro John Farrer. Concertgoers will taste Santa Barbara County wines, beer, and local cuisine, while surrounded by the beauty of wine country.
Bring a lawn chair and sit on the grass, or splurge on a table for 10 and sip Champagne while listening to the rousing sounds of Copland, Williams, and Sousa. For tickets to Pops in the Vineyard, go to santamariaphilharmonic.org.
I am honored to serve as the concert’s master of ceremonies, so I will see you there from 1 to 4:30 p.m.
Come celebrate America’s favorite wine and America’s songbook, just days before America’s birthday, in the All-America City.
Sun food and wine writer Wendy Thies Sell is just like the average American, drinking more Chardonnay than any other variety. Contact her at wthies@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in May 24-31, 2012.