The white grape variety originates from France. There are around 120 synonyms, which indicate the vine's great age and worldwide distribution. The most important, grouped alphabetically by country, are Clevner, Clävner (Alsace); Arboisier, Arnaison Blanc, Arnoison, Aubain, Aubaine, Auvergnat Blanc, Auvernat Blanc, Auxerrois, Auxois, Beaunois, Blanc de Champagne, Chardonnet, Chaudenay, Chaudenet, Chaudent, Epinette, Epinette Blanc, Epinette de Champagne, Gamay Blanc, Gentil Blanc, Luisant, Maurillon Blanc, Melon à Queue Rouge, Melon Blanc, Melon d'Arbois,
Melon d'Arlay, Melon Gros Vert, Morillon, Morillon Blanc, Noirien Blanc, Petit Chatey, Pineau Blanc, Pineau Blanc Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc Chardonnay, Pinot Chardonnay, Plant de Breze, Plant Doré, Plant Doré Blanc, Plant Doré de Champagne, Rousseau (France); Gelber Burgunder, Klawner, Weißer Ruländer (Germany); Chardonnay Bijeli (Croatia); Obaideh (Lebanon); Wais Edler, Waiser Clevner (Moldavia); Morillon, Feinburgunder (Austria).
Ancestry
Until the end of the 19th century, Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc were often confused. The ampelographer Victor Pulliat (1827-1896) had already assumed there were two different varieties in 1868 and this was officially recognised, at least in France, in 1872. Other countries had problems for much longer and considered the two to be identical. In Austria, they were recorded and recognised together in the official grape variety lists until 1999. In Styria, Chardonnay is traditionally recognised as Morillon and is often regarded as a separate variety. Although this vine has slight morphological differences to Chardonnay, it is genetically identical.
According to DNA analyses carried out in 2021, Chardonnay originates from a presumably natural cross between Gouais Blanc x Pinot Noir. It should not be confused with Aligoté, Auxerrois (Beaunois), Melon de Bourgogne, Pinot Blanc, Sacy or...
