Chablis is summer sipping at its finest!

From hosting friends on the dock to backyard dinners under the stars, summer weather calls for lighter, fresher food and wines. When looking for the best wine to accompany warm-weather entertaining, look no further than Chablis.

Made from the Chardonnay grape, Chablis wines are single vineyard wines from France. The Chablis terroir produces mineral-edged wines that are separated into four separate appellations: Petit Chablis, Chablis, Chablis Premier Cru, and Chablis Grand Cru.

Located in the northernmost part of Bourgogne, the soil from this region dates to the Jurassic period. It includes clay-limestone and Kimmeridgian soils containing tiny oyster fossils—remnants from land once submerged under warm and shallow seawater. But what does this all mean? Simply, the soil lends a complex and distinctive minerality to the wine.

Chablis AOC wines are usually pale straw to gold in colour; aromas of lemon, green apple, and flint are common, as are earthy undertones. On the palate, their pure refreshing flavours allow these easy-drinking wines to be appreciated in their youth, but you can also cellar them for up to five years.

Pair your Chablis with a cheese board, seafood platter, fish, even salads, or light chicken dishes, and enjoy the crisp lemon-scented wine—the purest expression of Chardonnay.

Look for these Chablis in the Vintages section of your local LCBO:

Domaine Le Verger Chablis 2019 $26.95

A classic example of Chablis that fully delivers on what's expected of the appellation! Pale yellow colour with light tinges indicative of its youth. The expressive nose offers up notes of exotic fruit, chalk, and a pretty bouquet of white flowers. The palate's mineral character is balanced by a sweet roundness, with herbal hints providing a pleasant structure.

William Fèvre Champs Royaux Chablis 2019 $30.95

Green-pear peel and notions of lemon, bergamot, and tangerine make for a tantalizingly aromatic and fresh but subtle nose. The palate is bright but smooth, soothed by a chalky texture that carries cooling zestiness to the long finish. 

Albert Bichot Chablis AOC $29.95

A long-established family firm, Bichot's philosophy extends to the arts, culture, and gastronomy. The Bichot Chablis shows aromas of baker's yeast, lifted mineral, chalky notes, and hints of citrus and cardamom; look for flavours of fresh pasta dough, chalk, and citrus followed by a medium-length, citrus-driven finish.

For more information about the wines of Chablis, visit Discover the wines of Chablis (chablis-wines.com)