Erie Shore Vineyard: Our Chardonnay 2016 Vintage Is Pure Gold

If you were to ask me what single variety of wine people most recognize and almost every winery produces, my answer without hesitation would be Chardonnay. And with good reason — it is one of the most versatile wines around. The number of different ways to make a quality bottle and the different styles of wine it can produce can leave your head spinning.

With so many options it can be difficult to navigate this sea of white wine. But hopefully after reading this article, whenever you hear the word “Chardonnay” you’ll think of our (Erie Shore Vineyard) Chardonnay.

I can’t help but think our Chardonnay 2016 vintage is pure gold. After all, it even has a golden hue — pun intended. The style we chose was an unoaked Chardonnay, which means we chose to emphasize its pear flavors and wisp of floral notes.

However, the true beauty of this wine is in the mouthfeel — the sensations you experience with every sip. Imagine the texture of silk, and you just got a glimpse at what your mouth experiences. But even with this lush body on your palate this is a dry white wine, which means it’ll stay light and the aftertaste/finish will be quick.

If you want flavours a little more intense to go with this lavish mouthfeel, you can never go wrong with some French onion soup. This is a pairing where each party brings to the table what the other lacks, and they complement each other beautifully.

The intense flavours of the soup and cheeses, alongside the sweetness of the caramelized onions complement the silky mouthfeel of the unoaked Chardonnay to create a meal greater than the sum of its parts.