Comparison
Bacchus vs Chardonnay
How Bacchus and Chardonnay differ, dimension by dimension.
The short answer
The main differences: Bacchus has more herbal / green character; Chardonnay has more body; Bacchus has more floral character.
Choose
Chardonnay
Choose Chardonnay if you want something fuller and richer, rounder and creamier in texture.
Where they genuinely differ
Only differences large enough to notice in the glass are listed here. A gap of half a point on a five-point scale is noise, and WineHQ does not dress it up as a finding.
Herbal / green character
Clear differenceHerbs, grass, blackcurrant leaf, capsicum and other green notes, largely driven by methoxypyrazines and picking decisions.
Bacchus is more herbal and green: medium-plus against low.
Body
Clear differenceThe overall weight and viscosity of the wine in the mouth — a composite of alcohol, sugar, extract and glycerol.
Chardonnay is fuller and richer: medium-plus against low-medium.
Floral character
Clear differenceBlossom, rose, violet, elderflower, acacia and related aromatic notes.
Bacchus is more floral: medium-plus against low-medium.
Texture
Clear differenceMouthfeel independent of weight — from lean and cutting through to creamy, waxy or velvety. Driven by lees contact, malolactic conversion, skin contact and ageing.
Chardonnay is rounder and creamier in texture: medium-plus against low-medium.
Sweetness
Clear differencePerceived sugar in the finished wine, driven mainly by residual sugar but modified by acidity, alcohol and fruit ripeness.
Bacchus is sweeter: low-medium against low.
Fruit intensity
Clear differenceHow loudly the fruit flavours speak, independent of whether they are ripe or tart.
Bacchus is fruitier: medium-plus against medium.
Where they are much the same
Just as useful: knowing which parts of the choice do not matter.
- Acidity: Similar — both medium-plus.
- Tannin: Similar — both low.
- Alcohol: Similar — both medium.
- Earthy character: Similar — both low.
- Carbonation: Similar — both low.
Full side by side
| Dimension | Bacchus | Chardonnay |
|---|---|---|
| Herbal / green character | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | low (1/5) |
| Body | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from low-medium to high (4/5) |
| Floral character | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) |
| Texture | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from low-medium to high (4/5) |
| Sweetness | typically low-medium, ranging from low to low-medium (2/5) | low (1/5) |
| Fruit intensity | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Aromatic intensity | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Oak influence | typically low-medium, ranging from low to low-medium (2/5) | typically medium, ranging from low to high (3/5) |
| Savoury character | low-medium (2/5) | typically medium, ranging from low to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Spice | low (1/5) | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) |
| Perceived freshness | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from low-medium to high (4/5) |
| Acidity | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from low-medium to high (4/5) |
| Tannin | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Alcohol | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Earthy character | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Carbonation | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Serve at | 9–12°C | 12–15°C |
| Typical flavours | elderflower, nettle, grapefruit, gooseberry, green apple | green apple, lemon, white peach, pineapple, hazelnut |
Values are typical points within each wine’s range. Both wines vary — see the individual pages for how much.
Read more
Grape
Bacchus
England’s most distinctive still white variety: aromatic, hedgerow-scented and often compared to Sauvignon Blanc.
Grape
Chardonnay
The most adaptable white grape in the world, and the one most often blamed for what winemakers do to it.
Comparison
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Comparison
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