Michael Chiarello ... Styles of Chardonnay

Some of Michael Chiarello's Favorite Chardonnays

Six 50ml (1.7 oz.) mini bottles

TastingRoom.com and Michael Chiarello -- like peas and carrots. Or more appropriately, like an amazing meal paired with exquisite wine. Award-winning chef, TV host, NapaStyle founder, vintner, and cookbook author -- Michael Chiarello -- has teamed up with TastingRoom.com for a line of Wine Samplers that embody his unique perspective on what comprises wonderful wine, great food and healthy living. Michael personally selected these extraordinary wines because they reflect his personal passion for gathering around the table with friends and family and creating meaningful traditions in people’s lives.  
 
Winemakers and chefs alike love Chardonnay for its versatility and it diversity. Michael Chiarello is such a fan, he has dedicated his debut sampler to this incredible grape. He chose these six wines in particular because they represent a range of wine that spent no time in oak -- to a long time in oak -- yielding wines from the very lean to the very rich.  
 
As a chef, Michael likes Chardonnay because its acidity makes it a great food-pairing wine. “I tend to match flavors and richness when pairing Chardonnay. I match lean seafood like sole and halibut with light Chardonnays. I pair medium-bodied Chardonnays with seafood like sea bass and clams. And, on the full-bodied end, I like shellfish, like shrimp, lobster and soft shell crab. If you like to contrast rather than compare, try a lean chardonnay with salmon.” MC