Do you love Chardonnay or hate it? Chances are, the answer is "both," because there are many more styles of Chardonnay than you may imagine. Sommelier Christopher Dooley explains both ends of the spectrum and everything in between, from the rich, ripe, "butterball style" that wraps around your palate like a warm hug, to "lemon laser water" that is ideal for food pairing. You'll get a full understanding of why you like the style of Chardonnay that you do -- it has to do with from where the grapes are grown and how the wine is made. You'll learn everything you need to know about the "holy trinity of white winemaking" -- barrel aging, lees aging, and malolactic fermentation -- so that you can seek out more Chardonnay wines that you'll enjoy, whether you're drinking a glass on its own or with a particular dish. And yes, you'll get plenty of food pairing suggestions with various styles of Chardonnay. In fact, Christopher can build an entire dinner around Chardonnays, just ask him!

More About Christopher Dooley

Chris is a former actor who found his way into wine by way of working in restaurants in between shows. A love of telling stories on stage soon became a passion for telling the stories behind wines and winemakers on the dining room floor. Chris began his career in wine in Cincinnati, Ohio. After working at several wine-focused restaurants he decided it was time to move to the east coast. He found himself in Boston where he worked as a sommelier at L’Espalier. Here is where he continued his studies, passing the Advanced Exam held by the Court of Master Sommeliers in March of 2015. Pursuing a dream, he shortly after moved to New York City. Currently, he is the Assistant Wine Director at Eleven Madison Park in New York City making it nice each day and spreading the love for Chardonnay.

Chris on Twitter: @chrisdooley

Chris on Instagram: @dooleysomm

Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/topherdooley/

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