Chardonnay
Also known as: Aubaine, Beaunois, Chardonnay, Morillon
Thin skin = high bunch-rot risk in wet falls; early budbreak exposes it to spring frost.
Across the consideration criteria
What it makes
Aromatic family
Tasting notes
Often blended with
How it grows
- Cold hardiness
- -8°F
- Ripening
- Early-season
- Vigor
- High
- Disease tolerance
- Low
- Drainage need
- Well
- Soil pH
- 6–6.8
- Graft requirement
- Graft Required
- US availability
- Widely Available
Considerations
Primary buds start to die near -8°F. Cold-tender; wants a mild winter or protected site.
Needs roughly 2250 growing degree-days to ripen, an early-season variety (Winkler I-II). Finishes early, well before a hard fall frost.
Foliar-disease pressure is heavy for this variety, a intensive spray program in a humid climate. Plan on a full, well-timed fungicide schedule.
Susceptible to Pierce's disease. Only a threat in the warm, humid South and parts of California; cold-winter regions cure it naturally.
High vigor. Wants leaner ground and active canopy management, or fruit hides in shade.
Low heat tolerance. Bakes and loses acid on hot sites; favors cooler ground.
Moderate water demand. Average moisture needs for a wine grape.
Prefers soil pH between 6.0 and 6.8. Outside the band, lime or sulfur brings it in range.
Phylloxera-susceptible: plant grafted onto resistant rootstock.
These are intrinsic to the grape. On a real property, Folia scores each against your site; here they're shown on their own.
Grows alike
similar to growAligoté
Same heat band (low) · Same Winkler band (I-II)
Müller-Thurgau
Same heat band (low) · Same Winkler band (I-II)
Grüner Veltliner
Same heat band (low) · Same Winkler band (I-II)
Kerner
Same heat band (low) · Same Winkler band (I-II)
Pinot Gris
Same heat band (low) · Same Winkler band (I-II)
Pinot Blanc
Same heat band (low) · Same Winkler band (I-II)
Climate-adapted alternatives
more resilient picksLa Crescent
PIWI: bred for fungal pressure · Better downy mildew + powdery mildew resistance (7 pathogen-steps improved)
Frontenac Gris
PIWI: bred for fungal pressure · Better downy mildew + powdery mildew resistance (8 pathogen-steps improved)
Itasca
PIWI: bred for fungal pressure · Better downy mildew + powdery mildew resistance (11 pathogen-steps improved)
Brianna
PIWI: bred for fungal pressure · Better downy mildew + powdery mildew resistance (8 pathogen-steps improved)
St. Pepin
PIWI: bred for fungal pressure · Better downy mildew + black rot resistance (9 pathogen-steps improved)
Louise Swenson
PIWI: bred for fungal pressure · Better downy mildew + powdery mildew resistance (10 pathogen-steps improved)
Could Chardonnay grow on your land?
See how Chardonnay scores against your specific property, with local precedent, climate, and the tradeoffs for your ground.
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