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- Thursday before the last Monday of May
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Chardonnay Day uncorks celebrations annually on the Thursday before Memorial Day, honoring the world’s most popular white wine grape. Raise a glass, explore new vintages, and share your favorite Chardonnay moments with fellow enthusiasts.
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Expected Chardonnay Day Deals
While we await official 2027 promotions to drop, history shows that Chardonnay Day inspires a variety of deals from retailers and wineries. Expect major liquor stores like Total Wine & More and BevMo! to offer discounts on popular Chardonnay brands. Online wine merchants such as Wine.com and Vivino often feature special bundles or reduced prices. Look for local wine shops to host tasting events or offer case discounts. Wineries like Kendall-Jackson, Beringer Vineyards, and E. & J. Gallo Winery may promote specific vintages or offer direct-to-consumer specials. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as May 27 approaches.
Platform Guide for Chardonnay Day
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #ChardonnayDay. Share photos of your favorite Chardonnay, tasting notes, or a festive toast.
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #ChardonnayDay. Film a quick review of a new Chardonnay, a pairing idea, or a ‘day in the life’ of a wine lover.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #ChardonnayDay. Join discussions in wine groups, share articles, or organize a virtual tasting.
Chardonnay Day Hero
Jean-Antoine Chaptal
History of Chardonnay Day
Wine lovers across the world come together to celebrate a special variety of wines today that is highly valued by wine connoisseurs and winemakers across the globe. That’s right, we are talking about none other than Chardonnay!
An interesting fact to note about the main attraction today, as well as many other grape-variety-titled wines, is that its name actually belongs to the grape variety used in wine production. This means that, in this case, Chardonnay is a grape variety used in the production of white wine, rather than a name of a wine brand.
It is green-skinned in color, hailing from the Burgundy wine region of eastern France. Chardonnay is a winemaker’s favorite because of its neutral taste which provides a wide range of creative possibilities. It is also a terroir wine, meaning that its taste is highly influenced by the environmental conditions of where it is grown.
In cooler climates, Chardonnay can present a taste of apple, pear, or green plum, while its flavors become more citrus, melon, or even tropical in warmer regions. This top-tier grape variety can also differ in taste due to the application of oak and other fruit flavors in its fermentation or vinification methods.
Chardonnay is said to have originated from a crossing of the Pinot noir and nearly extinct Gouais Blanc grape varieties. It gained massive popularity in the late 1900s, and growing Chardonnay is now considered a right of passage to new winemakers across the world.
Chardonnay Day was created by Rick Bakas to boost sales in the wine industry after the bank crisis of 2008. It was meticulously slotted around National Wine Day and the Thursday before Memorial Day to keep up the celebratory spirits.
Chardonnay Day timeline
The first written mentions of Chardonnay are discovered.
New World Chardonnay is rewarded in the famous Paris wine tasting tour.
Chardonnay gains massive popularity in the wine industry.
Rick Bakas creates Chardonnay Day as a social media event.
How Businesses Can Celebrate Chardonnay Day
Local restaurants and wine bars can celebrate Chardonnay Day by offering special flights featuring different styles of Chardonnay, from oaked to unoaked, or from various regions. Retail wine shops can host in-store tastings, provide pairing recommendations with local cheeses, or offer discounts on Chardonnay purchases. Grocery stores might highlight their Chardonnay selection with prominent displays and suggest food pairings. Consider partnering with a local winery for a special event or a ‘Chardonnay of the Day’ promotion.
Chardonnay Day FAQs
When is Chardonnay Day?
In 2027, Chardonnay Day is observed on Thursday, May 27, offering another opportunity to raise a glass to this versatile varietal. Mark your calendars for a delightful celebration.
How popular is Chardonnay globally?
With its extensive global presence, Chardonnay maintains its status as a top-selling white wine. Its enduring appeal is driven by its versatility and ability to express different terroir characteristics.
Where does Chardonnay originate?
Tracing its roots back to Burgundy, France, Chardonnay has a rich history tied to ancient grape crossings. Genetic studies have confirmed it as a cross between Pinot Noir and Gouais Blanc.
What is the difference between oaked and unoaked Chardonnay?
The primary distinction lies in the winemaking process: oaked versions gain complexity and a creamy mouthfeel from barrel aging, while unoaked styles highlight the grape’s natural acidity and bright fruit notes, offering a refreshing alternative.
Chardonnay Day Activities
Drink some Chardonnay
Of course, the best and most logical way to celebrate a day such as this will be to have a taste yourself. This is an international celebration, so make sure you aren’t left behind. Pop open your favorite bottle of Chardonnay, or Chardonnay-flavored wine and have a glass. You can make it even more interesting by inviting friends and family over for a small wine tasting event.
Cook with Chardonnay
This white wine variety is good for many things, and cooking just happens to be one of them. There are several recipes available online that include the use of white wine, and even more specifically, Chardonnay itself. So whether it's a seafood boil or a ribeye roast, make sure you are putting chardonnay to good use and sharpening your culinary skills while at it.
Visit a winery
Another great way to get involved in Chardonnay Day is trying your hand at making some yourself. Book an appointment to visit a vineyard closest to you to see how this grape variety is grown and produced for wine. Make sure you bring friends and family in on it because the more the merrier.
5 Interesting Facts About Chardonnay
It’s one of the most popular grapes
Chardonnay is the second most widely planted grape variety for white wine in the world with 210,000 hectares worldwide.
It’s sparkles too
Chardonnay is used in producing still wines, as well as sparkling and sweet wines.
It is named after a village
This grape variety is named after the village of Chardonnay in the Mâcon region of Burgundy.
The Queen made it popular
The wife of Emperor Charlemagne instructed white grapes to be planted in their Burgundy vineyard to stop her husband’s beard from getting stained by red wine.
It’s a best-seller
Chardonnay is the best-selling wine in America with over 840,000 bottles consumed per year.
Why We Love Chardonnay Day
It’s the perfect excuse to drink wine
It’s no surprise that our first reason to love this day is that it gives everyone a perfect reason to ease off on a glass or two of wine. Chardonnay Day offers a day free of judgments to sit back, relax and enjoy some wine.
Chardonnay deserves it
Chardonnay is an old, very popular grape variety that has given us so many amazing bottles of wine for every palette — still, sparkling or sweet. It deserves a celebratory day all for itself, and this day is set aside just for that.
It’s a social media event
Chardonnay Day was started as a social media event, gaining massive popularity across platforms and regions of the world. We particularly love this quality as it makes celebrating super easy and accessible to people across the world. All you need to do is use the hashtags #ChardDay, #ChardonnayDay, #NationalChardonnayDay, or #InternationalChardonnayDay to join in on the conversation.
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