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.