Comparison
Chardonnay vs Vermentino
How Chardonnay and Vermentino differ, dimension by dimension.
The short answer
The main differences: Vermentino has more herbal / green character; Chardonnay has more body; Chardonnay has more oak influence.
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.
Vermentino is more herbal and green: medium 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 medium.
Oak influence
Clear differencePerceptible impact of barrel or alternative oak contact — vanilla, toast, coconut, smoke, cedar and added texture.
Chardonnay is more oaky: medium against low-medium.
Floral character
Clear differenceBlossom, rose, violet, elderflower, acacia and related aromatic notes.
Chardonnay is more floral: low-medium against low.
Spice
Clear differencePepper, clove, cinnamon and related spice notes, whether from the grape (as with rotundone in Syrah) or from oak.
Chardonnay is spicier: low-medium against low.
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 medium.
Where they are much the same
Just as useful: knowing which parts of the choice do not matter.
- Sweetness: Similar — both low.
- Acidity: Similar — both medium-plus.
- Tannin: Similar — both low.
- Alcohol: Similar — both medium.
- Fruit intensity: Similar — both medium.
Full side by side
| Dimension | Chardonnay | Vermentino |
|---|---|---|
| Herbal / green character | low (1/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Body | typically medium-plus, ranging from low-medium to high (4/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) |
| Oak influence | typically medium, ranging from low to high (3/5) | typically low-medium, ranging from low to low-medium (2/5) |
| Floral character | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) | low (1/5) |
| Spice | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) | low (1/5) |
| Texture | typically medium-plus, ranging from low-medium to high (4/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) |
| Sweetness | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Acidity | typically medium-plus, ranging from low-medium to high (4/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Tannin | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Alcohol | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Fruit intensity | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Aromatic intensity | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Savoury character | typically medium, ranging from low to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Earthy character | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Perceived freshness | typically medium-plus, ranging from low-medium to high (4/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Carbonation | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Serve at | 12–15°C | 10–13°C |
| Typical flavours | green apple, lemon, white peach, pineapple, hazelnut | lime, green almond, sea salt, wild fennel, grapefruit |
Values are typical points within each wine’s range. Both wines vary — see the individual pages for how much.
Read more
Grape
Chardonnay
The most adaptable white grape in the world, and the one most often blamed for what winemakers do to it.
Grape
Vermentino
A saline, citrusy Mediterranean white grown in Sardinia, Liguria, Tuscany and Provence.
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