CorkonomicsThe economics of wine production, collection, and vineyards
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Vineyard land · Pauillac≈$2,798,250 a hectare▼ down 17% on 20232024Opening price · Château Lafite Rothschild 2025≈$376 a bottle▲ up 17% on the year beforeSold at auction · Romanée-Conti Grand Cru, DRC 2019$22,917 a bottleSotheby's, Sep 2026Cost to make one bottle · Burgundy grand cru (Pinot Noir)$48–283US duty on wine from · Canada+50%since Aug 2026Everyday bottle in a US shop$13.77 a litre▼ down 1.3% in a yearSep 2026Vineyard land · Margaux≈$1,567,020 a hectare▼ down 7% on 20232024Opening price · Château Cheval Blanc 2025≈$376 a bottle▲ up 22% on the year beforeSold at auction · La Tâche Grand Cru, DRC 2018$5,417 a bottleSotheby's, Sep 2026Cost to make one bottle · Champagne prestige cuvée$26–89US duty on wine from · Australia+12.5%since Jul 2026Vineyard land · Côte-Rôtie≈$1,511,055 a hectare▲ up 8% on 20232024Opening price · Château Mouton Rothschild 2025≈$336 a bottle▲ up 19% on the year beforeSold at auction · Richebourg Grand Cru, DRC 2012$3,542 a bottleSotheby's, Sep 2026Cost to make one bottle · Bordeaux classified growth (2nd–5th)$17–61US duty on wine from · New Zealand+12.5%since Jul 2026Vineyard land · Côte de Nuits grand cru≈$7,275,450 a hectare2019Opening price · Château Palmer 2025≈$268 a bottle▼ down 19% on the year beforeVineyard land · Pomerol≈$2,238,600 a hectare2023
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New to wine? Start with the short lessons, then look up any word you do not know.

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Chardonnay

The white that can be anything. Lean and crisp without oak, rich and buttery with it.

Say it: shar-doh-NAY · Save

A glass of Chardonnay with the flavours it is known for

Chardonnay in a minute

Tastes of
  • Apple
  • Lemon
  • Peach
  • Butter and vanilla when oaked
Most famous in
Burgundy, Champagne and California
What to try next
If you like it crisp, try Riesling. If you like it rich, look for the word oaked.
Riesling

How it feels in the glass

Body
LightFull
Acidity
SoftZingy

Body is how heavy the wine feels. Tannin is the dry grip of strong tea. Acidity is the mouth-watering freshness of lemonade. How to taste wine

What growers are paid for it: Chardonnay / Pinot Noir for sparkling, Carneros and Anderson Valley, $2,500–$4,500 a ton (2024). Every region compared

At the table

What to eat with it

Roast chicken, creamy pasta, shellfish.

A rounder white for richer dishes. Cream, butter and shellfish all bring out its soft side.

Wine with food: the simple rules

A bowl of creamy pasta with prawns and mussels and a glass of golden white wine
The business side

Chardonnay is grown everywhere; its collectible expression is confined to a few hectares of Burgundy (Montrachet, Corton-Charlemagne, Coche-Dury's Meursault) and the Côte des Blancs in Champagne (Salon, Krug Clos du Mesnil). Grape prices are public in California and Champagne, not in Burgundy.

Economics

Chardonnay is grown everywhere; its collectible expression is confined to a few hectares of Burgundy (Montrachet, Corton-Charlemagne, Coche-Dury's Meursault) and the Côte des Blancs in Champagne (Salon, Krug Clos du Mesnil). Grape prices are public in California and Champagne, not in Burgundy.

Key facts

World plantings
≈ 210,000 haOIV 2017

The numbers, for the curious

All regions →
InputLowMidHighUnitSource
Chardonnay / Pinot Noir for sparkling, Carneros and Anderson Valley2024 2,5003,5004,500USD/tonCalifornia Grape Crush Report 2024

Where the inputs come from

  1. California Grape Crush Report 2024 (CDFA / USDA NASS)

Where it grows

Vineyards in BurgundyRegionBurgundyThe most expensive vineyard land and the most expensive wines in the world, produced in quantities so small…Vineyards in California sparkling (Carneros, Anderson Valley)RegionCalifornia sparkling (Carneros, Anderson Valley)Traditional-method sparkling wine from California, much of it made by Champagne houses' own subsidiaries —…Vineyards in ChampagneRegionChampagneA region whose economics are set by an interprofessional body: grape prices, yields and released volumes are…

Famous wines

All famous wines →
Bollinger, AÿBollinger La Grande AnnéeChampagneInterior of the Saint-Pierre Abbey of Hautvillers with the grave of Dom Pérignon, Champagne, FranceDom Pérignon P2 (Plénitude 2)ChampagneHautvillers, the abbey of Dom PérignonDom Pérignon VintageChampagneStorm sky over the Corton-Charlemagne cross, Aloxe-Corton, BurgundyDomaine Coche-Dury, Corton-Charlemagne Grand CruBurgundyVineyards with the village of Meursault, FranceDomaine Coche-Dury, Meursault Premier Cru Les PerrièresBurgundyKrug, ReimsKrug Clos du MesnilChampagneA Krug Champagne toastKrug Grande Cuvée (by édition)ChampagneA glass of Krug 2004 ChampagneKrug VintageChampagne

Sources

  1. California Grape Crush Report (prices per ton by variety and district), CDFA / USDA NASS, 2025. Retrieved 3 September 2026.
  2. OIV Distribution of the world's grapevine varieties, OIV, 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2026.
Last reviewed: September 2026Report an error on this page

Related

RegionBurgundyRegionCalifornia sparkling (Carneros, Anderson Valley)RegionChampagneProducerBollingerProducerDom PérignonProducerDomaine Coche-DuryProducerKrugProducerLouis RoedererProducerSalon