'Chardonnay' is a grapevine cultivar which origin is in the Burgundy region, France. It acquired economic importance in the Serra Gaúcha viticultural area, Brazil, due to the production of varietal white wine and sparkling wine. In 2007 it represented 6.3% of the total vinifera white grapes processed. Because of its importance to the wine industry, the physicochemical composition of Chardonnay wine from the Serra Gaúcha was evaluated to develop a databank and to establish its varietal identity and regional characterization. Chardonnay wines 125 samples from the 1998 to 2003 vintages, made by 28 wineries, were analyzed. Analyses were performed in the Embrapa Grape and Wine Research Center, located in Bento Gonçalves, RS. Classical variables were performed by physicochemical methods; volatile compounds by gas chromatography; and mineral elements by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, exception to P. Results showed that Chardonnay wines had parameters according to the Brazilian legislation. High values of the following variables were observed: alcohol, reduced dry extract, ashes, proline, and K, which are responsible for the structure and body of white wine; and low values of volatile compounds, especially those related to the higher alcohols, responsible for fruity and floral wine aromas.
wine; composition; characterization
