What Kind of Wine Is Turning Leaf Chardonnay?
Turning Leaf Chardonnay is a crisp white wine from California vineyards. It is an awarded wine, having won the ‘DOUBLE GOLD’ in the 2010 Jerry Mead’s New World International Wine Competition. Turning Leaf Chardonnay is light-to-medium-bodied. It has aromas of citrus fruit and layered flavors of pineapple and butterscotch.
Chardonnay grows in many climates. Generally, it buds early and does not grow in areas with spring frosts. When cultivated in cold weather conditions, it exhibits flavors of green fruit and citrus, like apple, lemon, lime, and grapefruit. On the contrary, in warm regions, like California, ripe tropical fruit flavors are the norm. In hot climates, Chardonnay loses acidity quickly towards the end of the ripening process, and therefore, the harvest timing is critical. For the most part, Californian Chardonnays are heavily bodied with a very low-acid nature.
Turning Leaf Chardonnay Review
- Winery — Turning Leaf
- Country/Region — United States, California
- Type — Californian Chardonnay
- Aroma — Honeysuckle, Apple, Pear, Orange Peel, Lemon, Lime, Vanilla Spice
- Grapes — Chardonnay
- Taste — Pineapple, Mandarin Orange, Chard, Almond, Butter, Caramel, Butterscotch
- Alcohol Content — 12%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Trout, Fettuccine, Grilled Veggies, Goat Cheese
Turning Leaf Chardonnay is a compelling white wine. And it is of outstanding value. Offered at a super low price-point, Turning Leaf Chardonnay is straightforwardly delicious with fruit-cocktail flavors. It is balanced and highly versatile, so it is fantastic for any occasion, as it pairs well with a variety of foods. What more could you ask from such an approachable and easy-going wine? Turning Leaf Chardonnay is superb!
Tasting Notes
Turning Leaf Chardonnay wine is rich with a soft mouthfeel and an almost creamy texture. It displays a perfect balance between floral fragrances, green fruit and citrus aromas, tropical fruit flavors, and vibrant acidity. On top of that, Turning Leaf Chardonnay has a butterscotch finish and hints of brown spice. As such, the wine has a superb tasting profile that combines the best of both complexity and freshness.
Appearance
Shades of pale gold define Turning Leaf Chardonnay’s appearance. Swirls later, the translucent center develops into a medium lemon hue on the sides, creating shiny reflections. Furthermore, the legs of the wine are medium and watery and, in general, complement Turning Leaf Chardonnay’s look. A very pleasing presentation, indeed.
Aroma
Turning Leaf Chardonnay has a mostly youthful aromatic profile. However, it manages to display slight complexity, which is welcoming. The nose starts with floral fragrances of honeysuckle and green fruits, like apple and pear. Aromas of orange peel, lemon, and lime also emerge and blend with a hint of vanilla spice. The latter adds depth and a more refined sensation. Good stuff!
Taste
As a primarily fruit-forward white wine, Turning Leaf Chardonnay is easy-going and delicious. With pineapple and delicate mandarin orange flavors, the wine shows a riper character in the mouth. On top of that, intense notes of chard combine with touches of almond, giving extra structure and personality. In fact, vegetable notes are rare in Chardonnays as they are more a structural characteristic of Sauvignon Blanc. That means that Turning Leaf Chardonnay is a seriously fresh white wine.
Finish
Turning Leaf Chardonnay has a lengthy and creamy finish. Flavors of caramel and butterscotch sit still on the tip of the tongue, hitting the back palate as you swallow. These provide a pleasant creaminess to the aftertaste but not enough to overwhelm. Instead, they soften and round the mouthfeel. Finally, the crisp acidity delivers a well-needed effervescence as it washes the mouth from the fruitiness, preparing it for another sip.
Rating
Turning Leaf Chardonnay is sensational. Simple but with enough complexity to make wine enthusiasts delighted. The wine is so good, with nice tropical fruit and hints of butterscotch. Consequently, Turning Leaf Chardonnay is a really great example of Californian wine-making with an almost satin-like smoothness. And it is distinctively enjoyable drinking a glass while watching the sunset on the porch swing. I recommend it!
Turning Leaf Chardonnay Food Pairing
Turning Leaf Chardonnay goes splendidly with white fish, especially trout. In fact, serving creamy fettuccine with smoked trout and grilled asparagus on the side along with a glass of Turning Leaf Chardonnay drives the taste buds crazy. On that note, you can also pair the wine with goat cheese or shredded cheddar. You would be amazed how Turning Leaf Chardonnay’s pineapple palate blends with the creaminess of the cheeses. Finally, a staple pepperoni pizza is another fantastic option and a well-recommended one when you feel like catching up with your favorite sitcom.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Makes Turning Leaf Chardonnay?
Turning Leaf Chardonnay is made by Turning Leaf in Modesto, California. It is a winery offering “Award-Winning, Affordable California Wine.” They select quality grapes from California’s best wine growing regions, producing wines that are soft and inviting. Furthermore, Turning Leaf belongs to E. & J. Gallo Winery, a leading wine producer and importer in the United States. Founded in 1933, E. & J. Gallo is the world’s largest family-owned winery and the largest exporter of California wine, with an extensive wine portfolio.
How Is Turning Leaf Chardonnay Made?
Turning Leaf Chardonnay is crafted by following the traditional wine-making method for dry white wines. During harvest, the grapes are collected from the vineyards when they are ripe in flavor and high in acidity. Afterward, they are de-stemmed and crushed. Crushing breaks the skins of the grapes and liberates a quantity of juice. But damaging the seeds should be avoided. Otherwise, they release bitter oils and tannin, and the wine might become astringent and bitter.
After crushing, follows the pressing of the grapes. Pressing separates the juice and the solid constituents of grapes. Seeds should remain undamaged once again. Then, that juice is clarified to preserve primary fruit flavor and fed into stainless steel vessels to undergo cool fermentation. At this point, the malolactic conversation might occur. This process is responsible for giving creamy structure to Chardonnays, as well as toasted bread notes. Malolactic conversion, therefore, enhances the body of white wines. When fermentation is over, the final wine is filtered from sediments and bottled.
Where Is Turning Leaf Chardonnay Made?
Turning Leaf Chardonnay is produced right in the heart of the American wine industry: California. Chardonnay plantings flourish among the cooler coastal zones of the region. There, combinations of warm and cool influences from the Atlantic Ocean and fog favor a vast range of inexpensive and premium wine styles, with vibrant flavors and crisp acidity. California is considered the most prestigious region of American wine production. It has ultra-modern wineries and even some of the oldest Zinfandel vines in the world. It is the go-to region for consumers to try the best examples of American wine-making.
How to Serve Turning Leaf Chardonnay?
Turning Leaf Chardonnay is a crisp white wine, and as such, it should be served chilled at approximately fifty degrees Fahrenheit (ten degrees Celsius). If served warm, the aromas and flavors get mixed up—too cold, and they die out, leaving behind an uninspiring wine. To chill Turning Leaf Chardonnay, put it for an hour or two in the refrigerator. Afterward, uncork it and serve in standard-sized wine glasses. The surface of the glass provides the wine with essential aeration. As the air comes into contact with the wine surface, the delicate fragrances elevate.
Do not forget that you need to keep Turning Leaf Chardonnay cool to enjoy it. To do that, place the bottling in an ice bucket or wine cooler. The bucket should be filled three-quarters full with equal quantities of ice and water so that iced water surrounds the bottle. The water is then able to transfer the heat from the bottle to melt the ice. Air acts as an insulator, and the bottle chills. Keep in mind, however, that over-chilling is harmful to wines—it masks their flavors.
How Much Does Turning Leaf Chardonnay Cost?
Turning Leaf Chardonnay is one of the most affordable white wines on the market. It is marketed, after all, as California table wine. It could not command a great price, therefore. Turning Leaf Chardonnay prices range from $7 to $12 per 1.5 L bottle, depending on the vintage. With such a rock-bottom price, wine enthusiasts should seize the opportunity and obtain this delightful bottling.
How Long Does Turning Leaf Chardonnay Last?
Even if Turning Leaf Chardonnay is put for controlled maturation, it will not evolve its body and structure. The reason for this is that this Chardonnay is a primarily fruit-forward one. Consequently, it should be consumed young, within six months from the date of bottling. Otherwise, it might decrease its vibrancy, leaving behind a thin, even faulty wine. To sum it up, Turning Leaf Chardonnay does not have the slightest indication that it can withstand maturation. The longer it remains uncorked, the greater the decay of the wine’s vibrant nature.
How Many Calories Does Turning Leaf Chardonnay Have?
Turning Leaf Chardonnay makes a great dietary option. There are about 25 calories in 1 fluid ounce of the beverage, equating to almost 125 calories per serving. The calories breakdown is 0 grams of fats, 2 grams of sodium, 0 grams of total carbohydrate, 0 grams of protein, and 0 grams of total sugars. Turning Leaf Chardonnay calories, therefore, are average for a California white. And that makes the wine a good dietary choice.
Turning Leaf Chardonnay has an alcohol content of 12%. That is the usual alcohol concentration for light-to-medium-bodied Chardonnays. Unless specified on the label, Turning Leaf Chardonnay, like most wines, is not vegan. During wine-making, wines are clarified through fining, where the most commonly fining agents are animal-based. Vegans, consequently, need to consider this information before taking a sip.
Conclusion
Turning Leaf Chardonnay is a compelling white wine. And it is of outstanding value. Offered at a super low price-point, Turning Leaf Chardonnay is straightforwardly delicious with fruit-cocktail flavors. It is balanced and highly versatile, so it is fantastic for any occasion, as it pairs well with a variety of foods. What more could you ask from such an approachable and easy-going wine? Turning Leaf Chardonnay is superb!
