Japan Winery Map

Know the grapes

Chardonnayシャルドネ

Wineries growing it
213
Awards
977
Years with awards
2003–2026

The best-known white wine grape. Depending on how it is made, it can turn out crisp and dry or rich and full-bodied.

The grape itself is fairly neutral in aroma, so the site and the winemaking show through clearly. Aged in oak barrels it picks up toasty notes of vanilla and butter; made without oak it more often comes out fresh, with apple and citrus character. In Japan the Chikuma River valley in northern Nagano is known as a Chardonnay area, and it is also widely planted in Yamanashi and Hokkaido. Oaked styles pair well with creamy chicken or gratin, unoaked ones with grilled fish and shellfish.

France (Burgundy)applecitrusvanilla (from oak)

Notes on aroma and taste describe general tendencies for this grape, not claims about any particular wine — the actual character depends on the producer and how it is made.

For this grape we have not yet confirmed a primary source for its origin or growing regions. (Winery entries always carry a source and the date it was checked.)

Chardonnay at the Japan Wine Competition

977 awards in the published results carry “Chardonnay” in the entry name, across 101 wineries and 24 years. These are read from the entry names, not from declared grape composition, so wines whose names do not mention the grape are not included.

  • Grand Gold 1
  • Gold 87
  • Silver 248
  • Bronze 500
  • Encouragement 79
  • Selected 6

Wineries with the most awards

Ordered by how many awards we list. Producers differ in how many wines they entered and in how many years they entered, so this is not a ranking of quality.

Wines that have won more than once

Grouped by producer and wine, showing those with three or more awards. Names come from the published entry names, with the vintage removed because each row spans several vintages.

By year

Wineries growing Chardonnay

213 listed wineries are recorded by their sources as growing this grape.