Is all Chardonnay oaked?
While many people associate Chardonnay with oak flavors, not all Chardonnays are aged in oak barrels. Some winemakers opt for fermenting and aging the wine in stainless steel tanks, yielding a crisper, fruitier wine. Others use oak barrels to imbue the wine with vanilla, caramel, and toast flavors. In some cases, Chardonnay wines are a blend of both oaked and unoaked wines, striking a balance between the two styles.